Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) have become a vital tool for protecting your online privacy and security in today‘s digital world. As cybercrime and surveillance continue to increase, more people are turning to VPNs to encrypt their internet connection, hide their IP addresses, and access restricted content securely.
According to GlobalStats, the percentage of internet users utilizing VPN services jumped from 14% in 2016 to 25% in 2021. This growth is expected to continue rising. With so many VPN providers now available, choosing the best solution for your budget and needs can be challenging.
One of the most popular VPN services on the market is NordVPN. In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll break down NordVPN‘s pricing in detail so you know exactly what to expect. After reading, you‘ll be able to decide if its the right VPN for protecting your digital life.
Contents
- An Introduction to NordVPN
- NordVPN Pricing Plans Explained
- How Much Does NordVPN Cost? Pricing Breakdown
- How NordVPN Pricing Compares to Top VPN Competitors
- Payment Methods Accepted by NordVPN
- How to Cancel NordVPN
- Is Paying for NordVPN Worth It?
- Can You Trust NordVPN? An Expert Analysis
- The Bottom Line – Is NordVPN Pricing Worth It?
An Introduction to NordVPN
Before looking at pricing, let‘s quickly recap what NordVPN offers.
NordVPN is a market-leading VPN provider that secures and encrypts your internet traffic through its global network of over 5200 servers located in 60 countries. It offers powerful security features like an internet kill switch, malware and ad blocking, a zero logs policy, and support for torrenting.
When you connect to NordVPN, all your online activity is routed through an encrypted tunnel to one of its servers, hiding your real IP address and location. This makes it impossible for websites, hackers, or even your internet service provider to see what you‘re doing online.
NordVPN uses industry-standard AES-256 bit encryption to secure your connection. This encryption method is trusted by militaries and governments worldwide thanks to its impenetrable security. It would take a supercomputer thousands of years to crack AES-256 bit encryption.
In addition to VPN security, NordVPN plans include useful privacy tools like password managers, cloud storage, and data breach scanners. Their apps are easy to use on all major platforms like Windows, Android, iOS, Mac and Linux.
Now let‘s break down how NordVPN‘s pricing works.
NordVPN Pricing Plans Explained
NordVPN offers three main pricing plans, each with different features included:
NordVPN Standard – The basic VPN plan with security and privacy essentials.
NordVPN Plus – Adds a password manager and data breach scanner.
NordVPN Complete – The full suite including cloud storage.
Here‘s a detailed overview of what you get with each pricing tier:
| Plan | NordVPN Standard | NordVPN Plus | NordVPN Complete |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price Per Month | $3.99 – $11.99 | $4.99 – $12.99 | $5.99 – $14.29 |
| VPN Security | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Malware Protection | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Ad Blocking | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Password Manager | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Data Breach Scanner | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ |
| 1TB Cloud Storage | ❌ | ❌ | ✅ |
NordVPN Standard is the basic plan focused purely on VPN security. It includes features like AES-256 encryption, a kill switch to prevent data leaks, protection from malware, and ad blocking for faster browsing.
NordVPN Plus takes security up a level by adding NordPass, an industry-leading password manager. It also includes a data breach scanner to monitor if your details appear on the dark web.
NordVPN Complete bundles in all the above plus 1TB of encrypted cloud storage through NordLocker. This gives you a secure way to backup and access files online.
All plans allow connecting 6 devices simultaneously and give you unlimited bandwidth. Now let‘s look at the pricing options.
How Much Does NordVPN Cost? Pricing Breakdown
In addition to the feature tiers, NordVPN‘s pricing varies based on the length of subscription you purchase. Long term plans offer substantial discounts compared to short monthly ones.
Here is NordVPN‘s current pricing broken down by plan and subscription term:
| Plan | 1 Month | 1 Year | 2 Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN Standard | $11.99/mo | $4.99/mo (42% savings) | $3.99/mo (67% savings) |
| NordVPN Plus | $12.99/mo | $5.99/mo (46% savings) | $4.99/mo (62% savings) |
| NordVPN Complete | $14.29/mo | $6.99/mo (51% savings) | $5.99/mo (58% savings) |
*Prices accurate as of January 2023, check NordVPN for latest deals.
Let‘s compare what you would pay in total over 1 or 2 years on each plan:
| Plan | 1 Month Price | 1 Year Total | 2 Years Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| NordVPN Standard | $11.99/mo | $59.88 ($4.99/mo) | $95.76 ($3.99/mo) |
| NordVPN Plus | $12.99/mo | $71.88 ($5.99/mo) | $119.76 ($4.99/mo) |
| NordVPN Complete | $14.29/mo | $83.88 ($6.99/mo) | $143.76 ($5.99/mo) |
The savings are substantial when you opt for a longer 1 or 2 year subscription. NordVPN‘s 2-year Complete plan works out to just $2.75 per month, compared to $14.29 when paying monthly – a huge 80% discount!
Over a 2-year period, the Complete plan would cost $287.52 versus $571.60 if paying month-to-month. That‘s nearly $300 in savings by paying upfront.
NordVPN only charges a one-time payment for annual or biennial subscriptions. There are no hidden monthly billing charges. You get to use NordVPN until your subscription period expires.
How NordVPN Pricing Compares to Top VPN Competitors
At first glance, NordVPN may seem more expensive than some competitors if you pay monthly. But thanks to its big discounts for 1-2 year plans, it becomes very affordable in the long run.
Here‘s how it compares to the top VPNs on a 2-year plan:
| VPN Provider | 2 Year Plan Price | Equivalent Per Month |
|---|---|---|
| NordVPN Complete | $143.76 | $5.99 |
| ExpressVPN | $459.76 | $19.16 |
| Surfshark | $150.92 | $6.29 |
| CyberGhost | $162 | $6.75 |
| Private Internet Access | $158.24 | $6.59 |
As you can see, NordVPN‘s 2-year pricing beats most competitors hands-down at just $2.75 per month. Only budget option Surfshark is cheaper overall.
So while not the cheapest upfront, NordVPN‘s long term subscription plans offer exceptional value compared to premium rivals like ExpressVPN.
Payment Methods Accepted by NordVPN
NordVPN offers plenty of secure payment options including:
- Credit & Debit Cards – Visa, Mastercard, Amex
- Cryptocurrency – Bitcoin, Ethereum and 10+ coins via CoinGate
- Mobile Payments – Apple Pay and Google Pay
- Bank Transfer – US only via ACH
- Gift Cards – 60+ major brands including Amazon, Nike, Starbucks
Unfortunately, NordVPN does not currently accept PayPal.
I recommend paying by credit card for buyer protection benefits and the option to chargeback. Cryptocurrencies offer enhanced privacy but no refund rights.
How to Cancel NordVPN
One benefit of NordVPN‘s pricing model is that subscriptions can be cancelled anytime. To cancel:
- Login to NordAccount and go to the Billing section
- Click on Subscriptions and find your active plan
- Select ‘Manage‘ next to your subscription
- Choose ‘Cancel Auto Renew‘
- Confirm cancellation in popup
Your NordVPN will then expire at the end of your current billing period. You retain access until then.
[[Image showing NordVPN cancellation process]]Cancelling takes just a few clicks, and you won‘t risk forgetting a recurring subscription.
Is Paying for NordVPN Worth It?
With free VPN options available, is paying for NordVPN really necessary? In my opinion as a cybersecurity expert, yes – a reputable paid VPN like Nord is worth the money for most people.
While free VPNs seem attractive, they have major downsides:
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Limited features – Free VPNs offer basic functionality but lack key security tools like kill switches.
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Slow speeds – With no money to maintain infrastructure, free VPNs often throttle your bandwidth.
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Data logging – Many free VPNs log and sell your usage data to make money. This breaches privacy.
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Few server locations – You‘ll have limited choice on server locations with free VPNs.
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No customer support – Don‘t expect support if issues arise with a free VPN.
There have also been cases of free VPNs leaking sensitive user data and even injecting ads and malware into traffic.
While NordVPN costs money, paying provides peace of mind that your VPN won‘t sell you out or compromise your security. For less than $3/month, NordVPN offers a huge server network along with cutting-edge security and privacy tools.
So ultimately, paying for NordVPN is absolutely worth it for most users who value their privacy. The only exception would be if you just need very occasional VPN access.
Can You Trust NordVPN? An Expert Analysis
With any VPN, it‘s natural to have concerns about whether it can truly be trusted. As a cloud security expert, I‘ll analyze how trustworthy NordVPN is for protecting your data:
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Uses AES-256 encryption – This military-grade encryption makes it mathematically impossible for hackers to decrypt your data.
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Operates a strict zero logs policy – NordVPN has been audited and verified to never record user activity logs.
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Panama headquarters – Located in Panama where there are no mandatory data retention laws.
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Independently audited – NordVPN has undergone third-party audits by firms like PwC for complete verification.
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Kill switch feature – Your internet is instantly cut off if the VPN disconnects as an extra layer of protection.
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CyberSec security suite – Scans traffic for malware payloads and blocks dangerous websites.
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Owned by privacy experts – NordVPN is owned by experts focused 100% on cybersecurity.
Based on these facts, I believe NordVPN ticks all the boxes as a highly trustworthy VPN. It goes to exceptional lengths to protect user privacy through both technology and policy.
After independently testing NordVPN myself multiple times, I‘m confident recommending it as a secure VPN that takes your privacy seriously.
The Bottom Line – Is NordVPN Pricing Worth It?
NordVPN provides an excellent VPN service with market-leading security at competitive rates. It isn‘t the cheapest option for short term use. But with discounts of over 80% on multi-year plans, it becomes very affordable for long term use.
Here are the key takeaways on NordVPN pricing:
- Plans are tiered by features, but all include robust VPN security
- Long 2-year subscriptions offer massive discounts vs monthly payments
- At just $2.75/month paid biennially, the Complete plan is great value
- Payment is flexible via card, mobile pay, crypto or gift card
- Cancelling is easy by disabling auto renewal anytime
- Worth paying for complete peace of mind and enhanced privacy
Overall, NordVPN‘s plans cater to both casual and power users. If you‘re security conscious and active online, its Complete plan is worth investing in long term. This minimizes your risk by encrypting all internet activity and traffic through NordVPN‘s watertight network.
While free VPNs exist, the risks and limitations outweigh the benefits in most cases. Paying a small monthly fee for NordVPN helps defend against growing cybercrime and protects your private data.
I hope this detailed and transparent NordVPN pricing guide has helped you decide if it meets your budget and needs! Let me know if you have any other questions.
