NordVPN has long been one of the most recognizable names in the VPN industry, but its feature set has expanded significantly in recent years. Beyond encrypting your internet traffic, NordVPN now offers Threat Protection Pro, which scans downloaded files for malware and blocks access to malicious websites—functionality similar to that of traditional antivirus software. Its performance in detecting fraudulent and malware-hosting URLs is particularly impressive. Thanks to its comprehensive suite of tools in a single service, NordVPN earns our Editors’ Choice award. While several VPNs hold this title, two other standout options are Mullvad VPN, known for its exceptional commitment to user privacy, and Proton VPN, a five-star service that offers a simpler and more budget-friendly alternative to NordVPN.
How Much Does NordVPN Cost?
NordVPN’s Standard plan, priced at $12.99 per month or $59.88 for the first year, includes only the core VPN service. The Plus plan, at $13.99 per month or $69.48 for the first year, adds the NordPass password manager, data breach monitoring similar to HaveIBeenPwned, and malware protection through NordVPN’s own Threat Protection Pro—more on that later. The Ultimate plan (formerly called Complete), costs $14.99 per month or $83.88 for the first year, and includes 1TB of encrypted cloud storage via NordLocker, along with identity theft protection insured for up to $1 million in losses. After the first year, each plan renews annually at its respective rate.
It’s worth noting that in April 2024, NordVPN became the focus of a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of consumers in California and North Carolina, centered on its auto-renewal practices for annual plans. Although the initial pricing may seem appealing, many users reported that once the first year ended, renewal rates jumped by as much as 200%, often without clear prior notification before the charge was applied.
While auto-renewal price hikes are fairly common across the VPN industry, NordVPN faced particular scrutiny due to user complaints that canceling their subscriptions was unnecessarily complicated and that the renewal terms were not clearly communicated at the time of purchase. The case is currently in arbitration, and we’ll provide updates once the involved states reach a decision.
While the discounts mentioned above may appear attractive, we advise against locking into a long-term plan right away. It’s smarter to begin with a one-month subscription to evaluate the service for yourself. Keep in mind that NordVPN’s pricing can vary depending on your location or the time of year. That said, there’s no reliable way to game the system—some users try clearing cookies in hopes of triggering better deals, but results are inconsistent. Notably, NordVPN does not offer a free trial or free subscription option.
You can pay with major credit cards, Google Pay, PayPal, or even cryptocurrencies via CoinGate. At the time of writing, the average monthly VPN cost across services we’ve reviewed is around $10.14, with annual plans averaging $57.61—making NordVPN one of the priciest options available, regardless of plan or duration.
There are more affordable alternatives with competitive features. Mullvad VPN charges just €5 (about $5.52) per month, and Proton VPN offers similar capabilities and nearly twice the number of simultaneous connections as NordVPN, all for $11.49 monthly.
There are also a few free VPNs worth considering. While all free VPN services come with certain limitations, Proton VPN stands out as one of the rare options that doesn’t cap data usage for free users. If you’re deciding between NordVPN and Proton VPN, be sure to check out our in-depth comparison to see how they stack up.
What Do You Get for Your Money With NordVPN?
NordVPN allows up to six simultaneous device connections—an unusual number compared to the typical five or ten offered by most VPN providers. However, that’s shifting, as services like Avira Phantom VPN, IPVanish VPN, Surfshark VPN, and Windscribe VPN now support unlimited simultaneous connections. NordVPN, meanwhile, offers user-friendly apps for all major platforms. (Disclosure: IPVanish is owned by Ziff Davis, the parent company of PCMag.com. See our Editorial Mission Statement for details.)
For users who need more consistency, NordVPN also offers static IP addresses for an additional $3.69 per month (or $70.68 annually with a VPN subscription). Locations include the U.S., Germany, the UK, the Netherlands, and Japan. A static IP can help avoid blocks and reauthentication issues, especially when frequently connecting from the same region. We also appreciate how much simpler NordVPN has made it to add a static IP to your account.