On this page14 sections
- Ratings and complaints
- NordVPN vs. competitors
- Pricing
- Step by step
- NordVPN legitimacy and licensing
- The 2018 server breach
- How much NordVPN costs, and what it renews at
- NordVPN reviews and complaints
- Refunds, free trial and how to cancel
- The rules on auto-renewal
- What a VPN will not do for you
- What customers say
- Alternatives
- FAQ
NordVPN's no-logs claims have passed six independent assessments, most recently by Deloitte Lithuania in December 2025, and one rented server in Finland was breached in 2018. It is a legitimate VPN from Nord Security, a company founded in Lithuania in 2012; the VPN itself operates under Panama jurisdiction. The intro price is low ($3.49 a month on the 2-year Basic plan), but the plan renews automatically at $139.08 a year, and auto-renewal is the top complaint in reviews and the subject of several U.S. class action lawsuits. Buy it if you want a large network and extras, and set a reminder to cancel or reprice before the first term ends.
Your options
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NordVPN This review People who want a large server network, audited no-logs claims and security extras, and who will manage the renewal date themselves.
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Surfshark Alternative Households with many devices that want a low first-term price and will turn off auto-renew or re-shop before the first renewal.
- Company
- NordVPN is part of Nord Security, founded in 2012 in Lithuania; NordVPN operates under Panama jurisdiction and the parent company is based in the Netherlands, per NordVPN's help center8
- Lowest advertised price
- Basic at $3.49 a month on the 2-year plan; $94.23 for the first 27 months on NordVPN's U.S. offer page; $14.99 month to month2
- Renewal price
- Basic renews automatically at $139.08 a year; NordVPN says renewal prices can change, with notice by email first2
- Devices
- Up to 10 at the same time; a router counts as one device7
- Servers
- 7,131 servers in 150 countries and 225 cities in NordVPN's public server list on October 12, 202611
- No-logs audits
- Six independent assessments since 2018; the latest by Deloitte Lithuania (ISAE 3000), November 10 to December 12, 202521
- Refunds and trial
- 30-day money-back guarantee on the first purchase only; a 7-day free trial for new U.S. customers on 1-year and 2-year plans4
- Ratings
- 4.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot (51,054 reviews, 12% one star); 4.7 on the App Store (about 708,000 ratings)15
Pros
- Six independent no-logs assessments, the latest by Deloitte in December 2025
- Large network: about 7,100 servers in 150 countries
- Specialty servers: Double VPN, Onion over VPN and obfuscated servers
- 7-day free trial in the U.S. plus a 30-day refund on the first purchase
- Strong app ratings: 4.7 on the App Store and 4.2 on Trustpilot
Cons
- Basic renews at $139.08 a year, far above the intro price
- Auto-renewal is the most common complaint and the subject of pending U.S. class actions
- Refunds apply only to the first purchase, not renewals
- 10-device limit, where Surfshark allows unlimited
- One rented server was breached in 2018 and not disclosed until 2019
Best for: People who want a large server network, audited no-logs claims and security extras, and who will manage the renewal date themselves.
Skip it if: You want the lowest long-term price, a free plan, or more than 10 devices on one account.
NordVPN vs. competitors
| Company | Intro price | Renewal | Devices | Money-back | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN | From $3.49 a month (2-year Basic) | $139.08 a year (Basic) | 10 | 30 days, first purchase only | Visit site |
| ExpressVPN | From $2.99 a month (28 months) | $99.95 to $199.95 a year | 10 to 14 | 30 days for new users | Visit site |
| Surfshark | From $2.49 a month (27 months) | Unlimited | 30 days | Visit site | |
| Proton VPN | $3.49 a month (2-year) or $9.99 monthly; free plan | $83.88 a year | 10; free plan 1 | 30 days | Visit site |
| Mullvad | $5.56 a month flat (billed as €5) | Same flat rate | 5 | 14 days | Read review |
VPN services we reviewed
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NordVPN This review BestGuide rating: 4.5 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who want a large server network, audited no-logs claims and security extras, and who will manage the renewal date themselves. -
Private Internet Access BestGuide rating: 4.5 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Households that want one low-cost VPN subscription for every phone, laptop and TV, with servers in each U.S. state. -
Surfshark BestGuide rating: 4.5 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Households with many devices that want a low first-term price and will turn off auto-renew or re-shop before the first renewal. -
Proton VPN BestGuide rating: 4.4 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who want a well-audited VPN, including those who need a free option for occasional use or already pay for Proton Mail. -
CyberGhost BestGuide rating: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Budget buyers who want a low renewal price and a long refund window to test streaming and devices. -
WiTopia BestGuide rating: 4.3 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who want a simple, fairly priced VPN from a long-running U.S. company, especially if they also want encrypted email. -
ExpressVPN BestGuide rating: 4.2 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: Travelers and streamers who want servers in many countries and polished apps, and who will cancel or renegotiate before the first renewal. -
Mysterium VPN BestGuide rating: 4.2 out of 5. Set by our editorial team from published factors such as cost, credentials, reputation, customer experience, services and guarantees. Verified partners are scored on our partner verification program and can be listed first; they are always labeled BestGuide Partner. Best for: People who need an IP address that looks like a home connection to reach sites that block regular VPNs.
NordVPN pricing at a glance
NordVPN plans: Basic 2-year price from NordVPN's U.S. offer page; other tiers from Security.org's October 1, 2026 price survey (NordVPN's pricing page blocked our check)1
| Plan | 2-year plan | 1-year plan | Month to month | Renews at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | $3.49 a month | $5.49 a month | $14.99 | $139.08 a year |
| Complete | $4.49 a month | $6.49 a month | $19.99 | Not published here |
| Prime | $7.49 a month | $9.49 a month | $29.99 | Not published here |
Long plans are paid in full up front. NordVPN's U.S. offer page bills the 2-year Basic plan as $94.23 for the first 27 months; Security.org lists $83.76 for 24 months, so the bonus months vary by promotion. Higher tiers add tools such as the NordPass password manager, NordLocker storage and, on Prime, identity theft protection. NordVPN's pricing page blocks automated access, so confirm every total at checkout. Taxes are added where they apply.
NordVPN, step by step
Pick a plan and term
Choose Basic, Complete or Prime on a 2-year, 1-year or monthly term. Long terms are charged in full up front, and new U.S. customers can start a 7-day free trial on 1-year and 2-year plans with a card or PayPal.
Install the apps
Download the app for each phone and computer and sign in, or set NordVPN up on your router to cover your whole home network. Up to 10 devices can connect at once.
Connect
Pick a server country. NordLynx (built on WireGuard), NordWhisper, OpenVPN and IKEv2 are available, along with a kill switch and specialty servers such as Double VPN and Onion over VPN.
Test within 30 days
Try your streaming services, games and networks. If something you need does not work, ask live chat for a refund within 30 days of your first purchase.
Turn off auto-renew
In your Nord Account, open Billing and cancel auto-renewal; you get a confirmation email. Do this well before your term ends so you are not charged the renewal price.
NordVPN legitimacy and licensing
Yes. NordVPN is run by Nord Security, which was founded in Lithuania in 2012 and also makes NordPass and NordLocker. NordVPN’s help center says the VPN operates under Panama Jurisdiction. The country whose laws govern the VPN company and any data requests it receives. Compare VPN services, where there is no mandatory data retention law, while the parent company is based in the Netherlands. In 2022 Nord Security and Surfshark merged under one holding company, though both say they run separate infrastructure.
NordVPN says it does not log your browsing, connection times or IP addresses. It keeps your email, a username and payment records for refunds. Those claims have passed six independent assessments since 2018. The latest, by Deloitte Lithuania under the ISAE 3000 standard, ran from November 10 to December 12, 2025 and covered standard servers plus Double VPN, Onion over VPN and obfuscated servers.
Watch for scams that impersonate NordVPN. Its help center says real emails come only from @nordvpn.com, @nordvpnmedia.com or @nordsec.com addresses, so ignore messages from look-alike or free email domains.
The 2018 server breach
In 2018 an attacker got into one NordVPN server rented from a data center in Finland. The way in was a remote management tool the hosting company had installed without telling NordVPN. NordVPN disclosed the breach in October 2019, after researchers raised it publicly, and said no usernames or passwords were exposed and the attacker could not decrypt traffic on other servers. It ended its contract with the host and promised a security audit, outside reviews and a bug bounty program.
Since then NordVPN has passed the six no-logs assessments above. No later breach of user data has been reported, but the delay in disclosure is fair to weigh.
How much NordVPN costs, and what it renews at
NordVPN sells Basic, Complete and Prime plans on 2-year, 1-year and monthly terms. As reported in October 2026, Basic costs $3.49 a month on the 2-year plan ($94.23 for the first 27 months on NordVPN’s U.S. offer page), $5.49 a month on the 1-year plan, or $14.99 month to month. Complete is $4.49 a month on 2 years and Prime $7.49. Long plans are charged in full up front.
The number that matters most is the renewal. At the end of your first term NordVPN renews automatically at the renewal price, which is $139.08 a year for Basic, and its help center says that price can change with email notice. If you bought Complete or Prime, or added a dedicated IP, your renewal will be higher. Check the renewal line in your Nord Account before the term ends.
What customers say about NordVPN
Recurring themes across the review sites and complaint records listed above, not individual quotes.
Common praise
- Fast, stable connections
- Easy apps on most devices
- Helpful, patient live chat staff
- Strong security features and encryption
Common complaints
- Auto-renewal at a much higher price than the first term
- Connection drops and troubleshooting that takes several tries
- Problems with some apps such as calling and messaging apps
- Slow or unhelpful support on billing disputes
NordVPN reviews and complaints
NordVPN has 4.2 out of 5 on Trustpilot from 51,054 reviews, with 12% at one star, and 4.7 on the App Store from about 708,000 ratings. Praise centers on speed, easy apps and patient support staff. The complaints that repeat most are renewal charges at a much higher price, connection drops, conflicts with some calling and messaging apps, and slow help with billing disputes.
Renewal practices are also in court. Since April 2024, U.S. class actions have been filed against NordVPN S.A., Tefincom SA and Nordsec B.V. in California, North Carolina, Colorado and New York. They allege, among other things, that NordVPN charges renewals 14 days before the term ends, does not give enough notice, and makes cancelling hard. These are allegations, not findings. NordVPN told reporters its auto-renewal practices are clear, that it sends charge reminders on long plans, and that it has refunded some customers outside the 30-day window. As of the latest reports we found, the cases were still pending.
Refunds, free trial and how to cancel
New customers get a 30-day money-back guarantee on the first purchase. Ask live chat, follow the link it sends, and click Refund next to the eligible payment. Once a subscription renews, it is no longer covered unless local law says otherwise. Apple App Store and Amazon Appstore purchases are refunded by Apple or Amazon, and retail purchases by the retailer.
In the U.S. and 14 other countries, new customers can start a 7-day free trial on a 1-year or 2-year plan with a card or PayPal. Cancel it under Billing in your Nord Account before day 7 or the plan starts at the price you saw. To stop a paid plan from renewing, sign in to your Nord Account, open Billing and cancel auto-renewal, then keep the confirmation email.
The rules on auto-renewal
The FTC’s Click-to-Cancel rule, which would have required cancelling to be as easy as signing up, was vacated by a federal appeals court on July 8, 2025 before it took effect. Other protections still apply. The Restore Online Shoppers’ Confidence Act requires clear disclosure and consent for online subscriptions, and more than half of U.S. states have their own automatic renewal laws. If you were charged a renewal you did not agree to, ask NordVPN for a refund first, then dispute the charge with your card issuer or PayPal, and you can report it to the FTC or your state attorney general.
What a VPN will not do for you
A VPN hides your traffic from your internet provider and public Wi-Fi operators and changes the location websites see. It does not make you anonymous to sites you log into, stop every scam, or replace good passwords and software updates. Streaming services also block VPN addresses from time to time, so use the refund window to test what you watch.
Alternatives to NordVPN
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If you only need occasional protection on public Wi-Fi, the free plan has no data cap and costs nothing on one device.
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A lower intro price and a lower Basic renewal ($99.95 a year), with up to 14 devices on its top plan.
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Owned by the same parent group, with a lower intro price and unlimited devices for large households.
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MullvadA flat $5.56 a month (billed as €5) with no renewal jump and no email needed to sign up.
Next steps
NordVPN reviews
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Frequently asked questions
Is NordVPN legit?
Yes. It is made by Nord Security, founded in 2012, and its no-logs claims have passed six independent assessments, the latest by Deloitte in December 2025. The main things to watch are the renewal price and auto-renewal.
Is NordVPN safe to use?
It uses modern encryption, a kill switch and DNS leak protection, and it says it keeps no activity logs. One rented server in Finland was breached in 2018; NordVPN said no usernames or passwords were exposed.
How much is NordVPN per month?
As reported in October 2026, Basic is $3.49 a month on the 2-year plan, $5.49 a month on the 1-year plan and $14.99 month to month. Complete starts at $4.49 and Prime at $7.49 a month on 2 years. Long plans are paid up front.
What does NordVPN cost after the first term?
Basic renews automatically at $139.08 a year. Higher plans and add-ons renew higher. NordVPN says the renewal price can change and that it emails you before a change.
Does NordVPN have a free trial?
New customers in the U.S. and 14 other countries can get a 7-day free trial on 1-year and 2-year plans paid by card or PayPal. Android users who install from Google Play can get a separate 3-day trial. Everyone else relies on the 30-day money-back guarantee.
How do I get a refund from NordVPN?
Within 30 days of your first purchase, contact live chat, open the link it sends and click Refund next to the payment. Renewals are not covered unless local law requires it, and App Store purchases go through Apple.
How do I cancel NordVPN auto-renewal?
Sign in to your Nord Account, go to Billing and cancel auto-renewal next to your subscription. You should get a confirmation email. If you subscribed through Apple, Google Play or Amazon, cancel in that store.
Who owns NordVPN?
Nord Security, which was founded in Lithuania in 2012 and is based in the Netherlands. In 2022 it merged with Surfshark under one holding company, though the two VPNs run separately. The App Store seller is Nordvpn S.A.
Does NordVPN keep logs?
It says it does not log your browsing, connection times or IP addresses, and keeps only your email, a username and payment records. Six outside assessments, most recently by Deloitte in 2025, checked that claim.
Has NordVPN been hacked?
In 2018 an attacker accessed one server rented from a Finnish data center through a tool the host installed. NordVPN disclosed it in October 2019 and said no user credentials were exposed. No later breach of user data has been reported.
Sources (21)
Facts on this page come from company websites, government agencies and regulators, checked on the dates shown. Editorial standards
- Security.org: How much does NordVPN cost? (updated October 1, 2026; third-party price survey used because nordvpn.com/pricing blocks automated access) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- NordVPN: Basic 2-year plan offer page (U.S.) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- NordVPN Help Center: How much will I need to pay upon renewal? (accessed October 12, 2026)
- NordVPN Help Center: What is your refund policy? (accessed October 12, 2026)
- NordVPN Help Center: Does NordVPN have a free trial? (accessed October 12, 2026)
- NordVPN Help Center: How to cancel auto-renewal for your NordVPN subscription (accessed October 12, 2026)
- NordVPN Help Center: How many devices can I use with NordVPN? (accessed October 12, 2026)
- NordVPN Help Center: Where is NordVPN based (accessed October 12, 2026)
- NordVPN Help Center: What information does NordVPN store? (accessed October 12, 2026)
- NordVPN Help Center: What features does NordVPN have? (accessed October 12, 2026)
- NordVPN: Public server list by country (API) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- TechRadar: NordVPN expands its server network to 211 locations worldwide (April 2026) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- SiliconANGLE: Virtual private network provider NordVPN discloses 2018 breach (October 21, 2019) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- PR Newswire: Nord Security and Surfshark join forces (2022) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Trustpilot: NordVPN reviews (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Apple App Store: NordVPN: VPN Fast & Secure (accessed October 12, 2026)
- TechRadar: A US law firm is taking NordVPN to court over auto-renewal pricing (June 20, 2025) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- Today's General Counsel: Nord Security faces another class action over subscription renewal practices (accessed October 13, 2026)
- Greenberg Traurig: Eighth Circuit vacates FTC's Click-to-Cancel Rule (July 2025) (accessed October 12, 2026)
- NordVPN Help Center: NordVPN imitation scams (accessed October 12, 2026)
- NordVPN: NordVPN passes its no-logs assessment for the sixth time (Feb 3, 2026) (accessed October 13, 2026)
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