NordVPN is developed by Nord Security, a company that specializes in creating cybersecurity software and has been supported by the Tesonet business incubator. The service was launched in 2012.
Like the vast majority of VPN providers, the giant NordVPN operates in a country that has no laws requiring it to keep data on its customers and that is not part of an intelligence alliance (like 5 Eyes, 9 Eyes or 14 Eyes), Panama. The company's offices are located in Lithuania, the Netherlands, Panama and the United Kingdom.
Arriving like a little thumb on the VPN market, NordVPN has established itself over the years as one of the reference tools. Currently, it helps more than 15 million users to ensure their online security, their confidentiality, but also to access the Internet freely, without constraints.
We'll come back to this later in this article, but it is possible to download NordVPN on a lot of platforms. The company notably offers applications on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS and Android TV.
VPN is the abbreviation for “Virtual Private Network”. In French, we commonly speak of a virtual private network. A VPN encrypts your Internet traffic and hides your online identity (including your IP address).
To achieve such a thing, NordVPN directs all of your internet traffic to one of its remote servers. When it comes to encryption, the company relies on a staple in the field of cybersecurity, the AES-256-bit encryption algorithm. As for the supported VPN protocols, you will find: OpenVPN, IKEv2/IPsec as well as a proprietary protocol, NordLynx.
The latter was developed by the Nord Security teams based on the WireGuard protocol. The advantage it has is that it allows you to offer much better performance, while guaranteeing a high level of security. If you would like to find some resources on the issue, we invite you to consult the tests that we were able to carry out with NordVPN.
This will allow you to see that its service is suitable for all types of use: streaming, gaming, P2P downloading, online security.
One last thing that is good to know, NordVPN offers more than 5,400 servers in around sixty countries.
Compatibility of its VPN application
Before you want to download the NordVPN app, it is a good idea to check that it exists on the device you are using.
Normally you shouldn't have too many problems. As we previously hinted, the provider has developed applications for almost all platforms and devices that exist.
If it ever becomes possible to download and install NordVPN on other devices, we will of course update everything.
Before downloading the NordVPN application, it is a good idea to find out about the prices charged.
Like your good VPN, its service has a cost. We also take this opportunity to remind you that free VPNs are not really recommended. As we were able to specify in our file on the subject, they are limited, inefficient and incapable of ensuring your online security even though this is the very essence of a virtual private network.
That said, let's close the parenthesis and focus on the prices of NordVPN subscriptions. In total, the company offers three offers: Essential, Advanced and Ultimate.
To only benefit from the VPN, the Essential offer is the choice to make. The Advanced plan will give you access, in addition to the VPN, to NordPass, a cross-platform password manager and vulnerability scanner. The Ultimate plan will give you access to NordPass and NordLocker, encrypted cloud storage. These solutions also belong to the benchmarks in their sector.
No matter what you decide (regarding the plan or the length of commitment), the provider will offer you a 30-day money-back guarantee.
You can therefore request a refund in the event of dissatisfaction. This will be granted to you without discussion. All you need to do is contact customer support. Downloading, installing and using the NordVPN service therefore does not commit you in any way, it is risk-free.
Were you disappointed after being able to download and use NordVPN? It can happen.
If you haven't been put off by this experience and want to continue using a VPN, you'll be happy to know that there are quite a few alternatives.
The best, for us, is ExpressVPN. This service is even more efficient and effective when it comes to running it on streaming platforms (Netflix, TV channels, Prime Video and others).
In addition, unlike its competitor, ExpressVPN has never experienced the slightest hack or data leak. This is proof that by opting for its service, you will not have to worry about security, anonymity and respect for your privacy. In addition, ExpressVPN has the advantage of offering greater coverage with 94 countries available.
CyberGhost is another alternative that may be worth considering. Its subscription is more affordable than NordVPN and overall, the service is almost equal, or even superior on certain points. With CyberGhost, for example, you will be able to count on: more than 9,000 servers, 7 simultaneous connections, servers dedicated to streaming, P2P, but also gaming.
If you are reading these lines, but you have not yet been able to test the NordVPN service, here is our advice. Download its VPN app on your different devices, use the service in different scenarios, and only then draw your own conclusions.
As we mentioned above, downloading the application and paying for a subscription with NordVPN does not commit you in any way thanks to its money-back guarantee. In the worst case scenario, you can request a full refund.