Is NordVPN Worth It in 2025?: An Inside Look at the #1 VPN Provider

NordVPN is a fast and affordable virtual private network (VPN). Based on its fair pricing, consistent performance, and advanced security perks, we recommend it as the best overall VPN in our Editor’s Choice Awards.

NordVPN isn’t just an excellent VPN service. It also offers a slew of useful features and even additional privacy tools to help keep users safe online.

For these reasons, we’d recommend NordVPN for most individuals seeking a reliable VPN service. Unless you need the absolute cheapest option available, it’s hard to go wrong here, and we think NordVPN is worth it. Here’s a closer look at why, based on our experience.

When NordVPN is worth it

We think NordVPN is worth it in most cases. We’re big fans — in fact, it’s our pick for Best Overall VPN of 2025. Here’s why:

• NordVPN is worth it for privacy-minded users because it is one of the most secure VPNs available. In addition to strong encryption protocols, NordVPN is one of the only VPN services to undergo annual third-party audits.
• NordVPN is worth it for people who need a robust online security suite. It’s a part of Nord Security, a reputable name in cybersecurity. Higher-tier NordVPN plans include trustworthy security software, such as a password manager (NordPass), encrypted cloud storage (NordLocker), and even identity theft protection (NordProtect). That makes NordVPN a one-stop shop for online privacy and security.
• NordVPN is worth it for streamers and gamers because it performed well during our repeat in-house testing and effectively bypasses content restrictions. That means you can access out-of-network content on various popular streaming platforms at reliable speeds.

When NordVPN may not be worth it

As much as we love NordVPN, it may not be worth it for all users.

• If a low price is your primary concern, we recommend Surfshark as the best NordVPN alternative based on its value. Surfshark offers unlimited simultaneous connections, advanced browser protection with the CleanWeb ad blocker, and enhanced VPN security features like a GPS spoofer for Android, obfuscation, multihop (double VPN), dedicated IP, and more.
• If you want to catch out-of-network sports in every U.S. state, then we’d recommend ExpressVPN. ExpressVPN offers server locations in all 50 U.S. states, so you can stream blackout content from anywhere. The downside is that ExpressVPN is one of the most expensive VPN services.

How much does NordVPN cost?

NordVPN prices range from $3.39–$17.99/mo, depending on the specific plan and subscription term you choose. The company offers monthly, annual, and 2-year subscriptions, with the latter being the most economical.

NordVPN’s pricing falls in the middle of the pack compared to other VPNs. It’s definitely not the most expensive option on the market (looking at you, ExpressVPN). Still, several excellent alternatives are more affordable, including Surfshark, which offers 2-year plans for as low as $3.97/mo (billed annually).

NordVPN offers four subscription tiers, each offering different features. Essentially, each tier adds security software to the VPN service, including:

• Malware protection
• Ad blocking
• A password manager
• Cloud storage
• Identity protection

NordVPN states that the Plus plan is its most popular. However, if you only need the VPN, the Basic plan is sufficient. The Basic plan is our recommendation for most users.

	Basic	Plus	Complete	Prime
Monthly cost	$12.99/mo	$13.99/mo	$14.99/mo	$17.99/mo
Annual cost	$4.99/mo (billed annually)	$5.99/mo (billed annually)	$6.99/mo (billed annually)	$8.99/mo (billed annually)
Biennial cost	$3.39/mo (billed every two years)	$4.39/mo (billed every two years)	$5.39/mo (billed every two years)	$7.39/mo (billed every two years)
Learn more	View plan	View plan	View plan	View plan

What do you get with NordVPN?

All NordVPN plans start with the same base: the VPN itself. Each tier then adds additional features, such as threat protection, password management, and cloud storage. We’ve tested the additional security offerings and think they are worthwhile services.

	Basic	Plus	Complete	Prime
Max # devices	10	10	10	10
# servers	8,000+ servers in 120+ countries	8,000+ servers in 120+ countries	8,000+ servers in 120+ countries	8,000+ servers in 120+ countries
Threat Protection Pro
NordPass
NordLocker
NordProtect
Incogni data removal	Add-on only	Add-on only	Add-on only	Add-on only
Learn more	View plan	View plan	View plan	View plan

NordVPN plans explained

The primary thing to note about NordVPN’s plans is that they all offer the VPN service. If you just want a VPN, the Basic plan has you covered. The higher-tier plans include additional security software to help enhance your online privacy and protect your identity.

That brings us to one of our (admittedly minor) gripes with NordVPN. There are just too many plans here. As you inch up to the Prime plan, the added features become increasingly niche, and it feels like Nord is just trying to tack on anything they think a privacy-minded person might pay for.

FAQs

Bottom line: Is NordVPN worth it?

Yes, we definitely think NordVPN is worth it based on our experience. NordVPN combines a robust and useful feature set with strong performance and a reasonable price. That’s why it’s consistently been one of our favorite VPNs, and our Editor’s Choice for Best Overall VPN. For most users who want a reliable VPN that’s been independently audited, NordVPN is the way to go.

But if you want to learn more about how other top VPN providers compare to NordVPN, check out our in-depth comparisons:

• Surfshark vs. NordVPN
• ExpressVPN vs. NordVPN
• Proton VPN vs. NordVPN
• IPVanish vs. NordVPN
• Private Internet Access vs. NordVPN