Updated: November 24th, 2020
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h/pi • 217 guides
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Ash's profile pictureAsh
Joined in 2018
Ash is an experienced tech writer with an endless passion for technology. She enjoys retro gaming, 3D printing, and making awesome projects on the Raspberry Pi.
No need to measure your head for these HATs—just make sure they fit your Pi!
In these interests: pi
An awesome touchscreen > a standard monitor when it comes to Raspberry Pi.
In these interests: pi
Have some extra Pi this Holiday!
In these interests: holidayspi
Our curated list of the best deals in all things Raspberry Pi!
Great for newcomers and seasoned Raspberry Pi veterans, alike.
Keep your Raspberry Pi as a secure as your desktop or phone.
The Raspberry Pi deals we’re most excited about for Prime Day.
Every machine needs an input device.
Inspiration for your own spooky Pi projects this Halloween.
Explore
h/pi • 217 guides
The Raspberry Pi is a small, inexpensive computer developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation in the United Kingdom.
Explore
h/kickstarter • 2 guides
Updated: November 24th, 2020
h/pi • 217 guides
h/kickstarter • 2 guides
Show all 15
h/pi • 217 guides
h/kickstarter • 2 guides
Ash's profile pictureAsh
Joined in 2018
Ash is an experienced tech writer with an endless passion for technology. She enjoys retro gaming, 3D printing, and making awesome projects on the Raspberry Pi.
No need to measure your head for these HATs—just make sure they fit your Pi!
In these interests: pi
An awesome touchscreen > a standard monitor when it comes to Raspberry Pi.
In these interests: pi
Have some extra Pi this Holiday!
In these interests: holidayspi
Our curated list of the best deals in all things Raspberry Pi!
Great for newcomers and seasoned Raspberry Pi veterans, alike.
Keep your Raspberry Pi as a secure as your desktop or phone.
The Raspberry Pi deals we’re most excited about for Prime Day.
Every machine needs an input device.
Inspiration for your own spooky Pi projects this Halloween.
Explore
h/pi • 217 guides
The Raspberry Pi is a small, inexpensive computer developed by the Raspberry Pi Foundation in the United Kingdom.
Explore
h/kickstarter • 2 guides

NordVPN Review: Unreal Speed and Security

NordVPN is a great choice for remote work and connecting through international servers.
Michael Michael (110)
0
Updated: November 24th, 2020
4.75 – Our Rating

NordVPN is a virtual private network (VPN) provider, started in 2012. NordVPN routes traffic through more than 5,000 servers in 59 countries. Like Howchoo, NordVPN is the result of a few friends coming together to make something unique and awesome.

If you use NordVPN when browsing the internet, it’s nearly impossible for a hacker or anyone to see your internet activity and data.

What is a VPN?

A VPN or virtual private network allows a user to connect securely through a VPN server to access the internet. Essentially, you could access a VPN server in Great Britain, masking the fact that you’re really in the US.

What’s known as a VPN tunnel is created and acts as a kind of encrypted shield, rerouting the encrypted data through one of the VPN servers. So, for example, if you use NordVPN when browsing the internet, it’s nearly impossible for a hacker or anyone to see your internet activity and data. Even your ISP (internet service provider) will not be able to track your downloads or sell your browsing data.

Your IP address will become masked and with a service like NordVPN, you’ll be given a dedicated IP address so you don’t get bogged down by Captcha authentication.

Who should use a VPN?

Everyone. We’re not joking. Even if you don’t do anything for which you’d want privacy, your ISP still tracks your activity and sometimes puts limits on your download speed if it sees that you’ve been downloading many big files.

Those who definitely want to use this:

  • Remote companies
  • People using public WiFi
  • People looking to access a streaming service in another country
  • People trying to bypass censorship in their country
  • Online shoppers looking for the best prices
  • Anyone who prizes data security

Is it illegal?

In most places—no. There are some countries with authoritarian regimes where VPNs are illegal, such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. To see a full list of the banned countries, check out NordVPNs article on this.

What should you look for from a VPN provider?

It depends, of course, on what your needs are for the VPN. However, there are some things you should be looking for, no matter what those needs may be. We’ll call them The Three S’s of VPN providers.

  • Speed (Does it slow down your connection noticeably?)
  • Security (What security measures are in place?)
  • Servers (How many and where are they located?)

In our NordVPN review, we’ll be sure to cover those key topics, as well as a whole lot more, so you can make an informed decision when considering NordVPN as your next VPN provider.

And, yes, we’ll let you know how well it works to stream videos in another country!

NordVPNNordVPN ×1
NordPassNordPass ×1

Howchoo is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you.

As a fully-remote work team, we have a unique interest in the privacy and security a VPN like NordVPN can offer. In both of these aspects, NordVPN sets the standard by which other VPN providers (including ExpressVPN) aspire to meet. What we’re saying is that we highly recommend it.

…we’ve completely forgotten that we’ve been auto-connecting to NordVPN for the past couple of weeks. It’s that fast.

When it comes to remote work, you want a VPN that doesn’t slow down the speed at which your team can work. That’s where NordVPN will truly excel—even for individual users of the service. There’s little to no slow-down when connecting via a NordVPN server. In fact, we’ve completely forgotten that we’ve been auto-connecting to NordVPN for the past couple of weeks. It’s that fast.

And it has all the VPN goodies, options, and tricks that others will look for, as well.

Pros

  • Intuitive desktop apps and browser extensions.
  • Works for watching streaming services overseas, like Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
  • Offers a version of the new Wiregaurd protocol.
  • No-log policy.
  • Built-in adblocker and malware blocker.
  • Little speed loss, even when connecting through a global server.
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

  • Limited functionality with password managers.
  • Using NordVPN while internet browsing on mobile can be annoying, as it causes Google Captcha authentications.
  • Browser extension may cause some issues when video chatting.
  • No phone support.

Price

As of November 2020, NordVPN currently offers three buying options, which vary in terms of how long you’re looking to commit to the VPN provider and how much you’re willing to spend. Obviously, the best deal involves buying the 2-year plan upfront, and, honestly, we don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t.

Commitment Period Price
2 years $3.71/mo. ($89.00)
1 year $4.92/mo. ($59.00)
No commitment / month to month $11. 95/mo

NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you’re only looking to use it briefly to, say…watch some US Netflix…then simply go with the month-to-month plan and cancel within 30 days.

Special for November 2020

During the month of November, if you buy the two-year plan at 68% off, you get a chance at getting an extra month, a year, or even two years free!

Main NordVPN stats

Supported Platforms # of Servers # of Countries VPN Protocols Encryption Max # of Devices Dedicated Servers? Support
macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Linux (Firefox, Chrome) 5,481 59 4 (Open, IPSec/IKEv2, Wireguard, SSTP) AES 256-bit 6 Yes 24/7 chat, email

Other NordVPN stats

Built-in Adblock Does it secure a Wi-Fi router? Auto-connect Virtual Servers Breaks Geoblocks? Torrenting? Works to Stream Video Overseas? Free version?
Yes. “CyberSec” Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No. 30-day money-back guarantee
Streaming ServicesStreaming Services

We know that for many this is the feature of a VPN that matters the most. We get it…who wants to miss the new season of Stranger Things on Netflix just because you happen to overseas when it’s released. Or maybe you’re in the US, but want to access BBC’s iPlayer to watch the latest murder mystery. We’re not advocating any kind of lawbreaking here. You’ll still need to pay for the service, even if you skirt the country restrictions.

Yes. NordVPN works!

We ran a test to see if we could access the BBC iPlayer from the US, using a server located in the UK.

Here’s what happened when I tried to watch Roadkill on the BBC iPlayer from a standard US server:

Denied Access to BBC iPlayerDenied Access to BBC iPlayer

(See the notice restricting access to those in the UK?)

Here’s what happened when I tried again while connected to a NordVPN server in the UK:

Access granted to BBC iPlayer with NordVPNAccess granted to BBC iPlayer with NordVPN

So, yes, you should feel secure in getting NordVPN for streaming shows overseas. Check out our guide to see how to use a VPN to watch US Netflix for a good example of how this works.

Ookla Speed of NordVPNOokla Speed of NordVPN

NordVPN claims that it is officially the fastest VPN available on the market. And you know what…they’re absolutely correct. Not only has that been independently verified, but we can say that based on our tests running NordVPN servers in both the US and UK that NordVPN is very fast. While every VPN will inevitably slow down your internet speed, NordVPN hardly made a dent in ours.

Here are the results of our own Howchoo tests with NordVPN, from the US mainland using Ookla Speed Test.

Measure Without a VPN NordVPN (US server) NordVPN (UK server)
ping 15ms 30ms 115ms
download speed 88.21 Mbps 62.65 Mbps 61.62 Mbps
upload speed 10.85 Mbps 10.75 Mbps 8.98 Mbps

You can see that using NordVPN only slightly increased our ping and lowered our download speed, but not by margins that would be very noticeable.

Important for those looking to VPN into a global server: While our ping obviously went up, it’s still well within the acceptable range for performing most tasks on a global server, including streaming video. There’s almost no difference in download and upload speed when using NordVPN on the UK server.

VPN Protocols NordVPNVPN Protocols NordVPN

NordVPN offers all of the standard VPN protocols that you would expect from a VPN provider, including a form of the new Wireguard protocol called NordLynx.

What is a VPN protocol?

In short, VPN protocols are the specific kinds of processes that form your VPN tunnel. Thus, they each have their own unique security and privacy features, as well as their own unique vulnerabilities. It’s important to choose the correct VPN protocol for your specific needs. NordVPN has built-in features to help you choose this.

Types of protocols offered by NordVPN

OpenVPN

The recommended general-use protocol, OpenVPN, is included in NordVPN. What’s unique, however, is that with NordVPN, you can choose between either the TCP or UDP internet protocols depending on what your VPN needs are. OpenVPN is an open-source protocol, making it very secure.

IPSec/IKEv2

For those looking for the most stable VPN protocol, NordVPN offers the IKEv2 protocol, though notes that Windows users will likely have the easiest time running this particular VPN protocol.

Wireguard (NordLynx)

The newest and fastest VPN protocol available, Wireguard, is available from NordVPN as “NordLynx.” This open-source protocol is lightning fast, due to its minimal coding. This is the preferred protocol for those wanting speed, like gamers or those wanting to stream video.

SSTP

SSTP, or Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol, is a protocol owned and operated by Microsoft, which may make some wary of the privacy it offers. Still, it’s a secure and good protocol for average use.

VPN ServersVPN Servers
NordVPN

As of the publication of this review (Nov. 2020), NordVPN has 5,481 Servers in 59 countries worldwide. That’s more than NordVPN’s closest competitor, ExpressVPN, and they offer a variety of different server types depending on what your needs are.

Types of Servers

NordVPN offers 4 main server types in most major countries to which you can connect.

Regular

The regular (standard) VPN server replaces your IP address and encrypts your internet traffic.

P2P

Optimized for file sharing, these NordVPN servers are built for speed.

Obfuscated

Use an obfuscated VPN server to prevent being blocked from accessing information in countries with restrictions, e.g. China or Iran.

Double VPN

This is ultra-security! Your internet traffic goes through an additional VPN server, which doubles its encryption.

Dedicated IPs

This is a unique feature for NordVPN users who connect to a server in the US or some major European countries. Essentially, you are given a dedicated IP address for your use while connected, which prevents you from appearing as a robot on the internet and in Captcha services.

NordVPN explains more about servers

VPN SecurityVPN Security

Like any VPN, NordVPN creates a funnel that encrypts your data and protects it from hackers or anyone looking to obtain your data. The encrypted data will look like an unreadable scramble to anyone trying to see your data, even your ISP.

AES 256-bit encryption

NordVPN uses AES 256-bit encryption. This is the current gold standard for encryption, approved for security by even the NSA. It ensures that unless someone was to build an impossible supercomputer, it’s impossible to decipher the data.

Independently verified

A company trying to sell you its product can make big claims about the security of their product, of course. With NordVPN, that security has been tested independently a number of times by security firms like PricewaterhouseCoopers AG Switzerland and many others.

Website check for security

NordVPN takes security seriously enough to include a built-in way to check if your VPN is working right on their home page.

VPN PrivacyVPN Privacy
Emsisoft

When using a VPN, the only entity able to see your internet traffic is the VPN provider, so it’s important to understand what they’re tracking (if anything).

Using any VPN like Nord VPN increases your internet privacy by blocking access to your internet traffic to anyone monitoring it, including your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Your ISP monitors your traffic and behavior, and will sometimes even give that data over to advertisers and government agencies.

When using a VPN, the only entity able to see your internet traffic is the VPN provider, so it’s important to understand what they’re tracking (if anything).

NordVPN’s no-log policy

NordVPN does not log or save information about anything you do while using the internet, including browsing history to download history. This means that even if NordVPN is hacked, there will be nothing there to steal. And even if compelled to give over data by a government agency, they have no data to give.

Cryptocurrency payment

Inevitably the only record that NordVPN will have of you is your payment record when you purchase NordPVN and your email address. You can skirt even this by employing your ninja skills and paying with a cryptocurrency!

Yes.

While we did just sing the praises of NordVPN’s security and privacy features, NordVPN was hacked in March 2018. NordVPN claims that the hack affected a single server in Finland. The hacker was able to access and monitor internet traffic for users on the server for a brief period of time.

NordVPN claims that it has found the source of the problem and claims that the hack is unrepeatable. They’ve also moved to a no-log policy, which should prevent your traffic from being monitored even if they were hacked again in the future.

Here is NordVPN’s official response.

Five stars for the NordVPN interface and applications!

Maybe the best thing about NordVPN is how intuitive and easy to use it is. As the GIF above demonstrates, you just click Connect and you’re secure.

Quick Connect

When you just want to connect to the best available VPN to secure your internet data, then the quick connect feature is what you’ll use. It’s simple and can be customized further in the NordVPN settings—if you’re looking to use a specific kind of protocol for example. On mobile, iOS has new compatibility features for VPNs, allowing you to easily turn on and turn off your VPN. And using the VPN on an Android was also very easy.

Auto-connect

You can set up NordVPN to auto-connect anytime you log into your computer or your mobile device. It will perform a quick connect and follow any protocols you may have customized.

Global VPN connection

When choosing a VPN server in another country with NordVPN, you can choose from the various types of VPN protocols offered by simply right-clicking the country in your application.

VPN PlatformsVPN Platforms

NordVPN supports most major operating systems and includes two browser extensions.

Desktop Operating Systems Mobile OS Browser Extensions
macOS, Windows, Linux iOS, Android Chrome, Firefox

Great on desktop and in browser

Howchoo has the chance to test our NordVPN on macOS, in Firefox, and on the iPhone iOS. In both macOS and the Firefox browser, we found NordVPN to be easy-to-use, start, and caused little slowdown in our daily use.

Problem with iOS VPN

On the iPhone, however, we did have to constantly bypass Google’s Captcha service, as we were not given a dedicated IP address to use on the mobile device.

BitTorrentBitTorrent

While we will not advocate for peer-to-peer file sharing through the BitTorrent network, there are many who have tested this successfully. So it’s definitely possible.

NordVPN, themselves, have written guides on setting up BitTorrent with NordVPN.

NordVPN Kill SwitchNordVPN Kill Switch

The “kill switch” feature from NordVPN adds an additional layer of security to using their VPN. This comes standard with any NordVPN package.

What is the “kill switch”?

Well, let’s say your browsing the internet using NordVPN, and your connection accidentally gets dropped. Normally, there would be a period where you would be using the internet unprotected.

With “kill switch” active, however, NordVPN will automatically stop your connection to the internet on any device with which you use it. It will remain blocked for your security until you either restore your connection to the VPN or turn off the “kill switch.”

NordVPN GeoBlockNordVPN GeoBlock

NordVPN can be used to access data in countries that have restricted it, in the same way that I used it to get access to the BBC iPlayer.

For example, if you live in the EU and are frustrated by the GDPR, you can use NordVPN to gain access to the US news sources that you typically would be blocked from accessing.

Can NordVPN bypass geoblocking in China?

Yes. If you are living or visiting China, you can use NordVPN to access the blocked part of the internet like Facebook and Twitter. NordVPN explains the process, as well as the legality of doing this.

NordVPN Support PageNordVPN Support Page

Huge props to NordVPN for building a wide knowledge base of content that can help its users solve just about any issue that may arise. In our experience, if we needed anything, chances were that NordVPN had an excellent article ready-made for us to use to solve an issue.

They also offer 24/7 chat support that provides friendly answers to simple questions, and you can email them with any issue that can’t be dealt with via chat.

No phone support

Alas, NordVPN has gone the way of many companies and offer only chat-based support options or email. We get it. Still, there are some who prefer the immediacy of chatting with someone on the phone regarding an issue. There’s no findable support phone number for NordVPN.

Onion Over GraphicOnion Over Graphic
NordVPN

NordVPN‘s Onion over VPN feature allows a user to route their traffic through the Onion network, which previously was only available when using the Tor browser. Just choose an Onion over VPN server when connecting with NordVPN, and your traffic will be routed through the Onion network!

Here’s a great video from NordVPN explaining more about this.

adblockeradblocker
NordVPN

We absolutely love that NordVPN comes with a malware and adware blocker built-in to its service. NordVPN calls theirs “CyberSec.” You can turn this feature on or off in the desktop app settings or browser extension settings.

Essentially, CyberSec blocks sites that host malware or phishing scams, which makes you safe from online threats. It also removes big, bright ads, which speeds up your browsing.

Easily the best VPN for speed and security currently available.

And best of all, the price is fairly reasonable when you consider everything that’s included. (It’s cheaper than ExpressVPN, for example, and offers a bit more.)

We like that our team can work on major projects remotely with the added security of having NordVPN protecting our content and data. And because we’re all working from home, we also enjoy not having our ISP keeping a close eye on how much we download and upload throughout the day. No ISP is going to intentionally slow down Howchoo’s speed!

The bottom line—you should be concerned about your internet security, both on your desktop and mobile device. And NordVPN is a great VPN for the task!

NordPass LogoNordPass Logo

While we do like 1Password for a paid password manager, NordPass might be the best truly free password manager currently available. And, at least according to the folks at NordPass, it’s free forever.

NordPass has everything you’d expect from a password manager, like great security, password sharing, device syncing, credential saving, etc. The only caveat is that, with the free version, you’re limited to using only 1 device at a time with NordPass and you don’t get all of the other goodies they offer with their paid version.

NordVPN Review: Unreal Speed and Security

NordVPN is a great choice for remote work and connecting through international servers.
Michael Michael (110)
0
Updated: November 24th, 2020
4.75 – Our Rating

NordVPN is a virtual private network (VPN) provider, started in 2012. NordVPN routes traffic through more than 5,000 servers in 59 countries. Like Howchoo, NordVPN is the result of a few friends coming together to make something unique and awesome.

If you use NordVPN when browsing the internet, it’s nearly impossible for a hacker or anyone to see your internet activity and data.

What is a VPN?

A VPN or virtual private network allows a user to connect securely through a VPN server to access the internet. Essentially, you could access a VPN server in Great Britain, masking the fact that you’re really in the US.

What’s known as a VPN tunnel is created and acts as a kind of encrypted shield, rerouting the encrypted data through one of the VPN servers. So, for example, if you use NordVPN when browsing the internet, it’s nearly impossible for a hacker or anyone to see your internet activity and data. Even your ISP (internet service provider) will not be able to track your downloads or sell your browsing data.

Your IP address will become masked and with a service like NordVPN, you’ll be given a dedicated IP address so you don’t get bogged down by Captcha authentication.

Who should use a VPN?

Everyone. We’re not joking. Even if you don’t do anything for which you’d want privacy, your ISP still tracks your activity and sometimes puts limits on your download speed if it sees that you’ve been downloading many big files.

Those who definitely want to use this:

  • Remote companies
  • People using public WiFi
  • People looking to access a streaming service in another country
  • People trying to bypass censorship in their country
  • Online shoppers looking for the best prices
  • Anyone who prizes data security

Is it illegal?

In most places—no. There are some countries with authoritarian regimes where VPNs are illegal, such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. To see a full list of the banned countries, check out NordVPNs article on this.

What should you look for from a VPN provider?

It depends, of course, on what your needs are for the VPN. However, there are some things you should be looking for, no matter what those needs may be. We’ll call them The Three S’s of VPN providers.

  • Speed (Does it slow down your connection noticeably?)
  • Security (What security measures are in place?)
  • Servers (How many and where are they located?)

In our NordVPN review, we’ll be sure to cover those key topics, as well as a whole lot more, so you can make an informed decision when considering NordVPN as your next VPN provider.

And, yes, we’ll let you know how well it works to stream videos in another country!

NordVPNNordVPN ×1
NordPassNordPass ×1

Howchoo is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you.

As a fully-remote work team, we have a unique interest in the privacy and security a VPN like NordVPN can offer. In both of these aspects, NordVPN sets the standard by which other VPN providers (including ExpressVPN) aspire to meet. What we’re saying is that we highly recommend it.

…we’ve completely forgotten that we’ve been auto-connecting to NordVPN for the past couple of weeks. It’s that fast.

When it comes to remote work, you want a VPN that doesn’t slow down the speed at which your team can work. That’s where NordVPN will truly excel—even for individual users of the service. There’s little to no slow-down when connecting via a NordVPN server. In fact, we’ve completely forgotten that we’ve been auto-connecting to NordVPN for the past couple of weeks. It’s that fast.

And it has all the VPN goodies, options, and tricks that others will look for, as well.

Pros

  • Intuitive desktop apps and browser extensions.
  • Works for watching streaming services overseas, like Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
  • Offers a version of the new Wiregaurd protocol.
  • No-log policy.
  • Built-in adblocker and malware blocker.
  • Little speed loss, even when connecting through a global server.
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

  • Limited functionality with password managers.
  • Using NordVPN while internet browsing on mobile can be annoying, as it causes Google Captcha authentications.
  • Browser extension may cause some issues when video chatting.
  • No phone support.

Price

As of November 2020, NordVPN currently offers three buying options, which vary in terms of how long you’re looking to commit to the VPN provider and how much you’re willing to spend. Obviously, the best deal involves buying the 2-year plan upfront, and, honestly, we don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t.

Commitment Period Price
2 years $3.71/mo. ($89.00)
1 year $4.92/mo. ($59.00)
No commitment / month to month $11. 95/mo

NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you’re only looking to use it briefly to, say…watch some US Netflix…then simply go with the month-to-month plan and cancel within 30 days.

Special for November 2020

During the month of November, if you buy the two-year plan at 68% off, you get a chance at getting an extra month, a year, or even two years free!

Main NordVPN stats

Supported Platforms # of Servers # of Countries VPN Protocols Encryption Max # of Devices Dedicated Servers? Support
macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Linux (Firefox, Chrome) 5,481 59 4 (Open, IPSec/IKEv2, Wireguard, SSTP) AES 256-bit 6 Yes 24/7 chat, email

Other NordVPN stats

Built-in Adblock Does it secure a Wi-Fi router? Auto-connect Virtual Servers Breaks Geoblocks? Torrenting? Works to Stream Video Overseas? Free version?
Yes. “CyberSec” Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No. 30-day money-back guarantee
Streaming ServicesStreaming Services

We know that for many this is the feature of a VPN that matters the most. We get it…who wants to miss the new season of Stranger Things on Netflix just because you happen to overseas when it’s released. Or maybe you’re in the US, but want to access BBC’s iPlayer to watch the latest murder mystery. We’re not advocating any kind of lawbreaking here. You’ll still need to pay for the service, even if you skirt the country restrictions.

Yes. NordVPN works!

We ran a test to see if we could access the BBC iPlayer from the US, using a server located in the UK.

Here’s what happened when I tried to watch Roadkill on the BBC iPlayer from a standard US server:

Denied Access to BBC iPlayerDenied Access to BBC iPlayer

(See the notice restricting access to those in the UK?)

Here’s what happened when I tried again while connected to a NordVPN server in the UK:

Access granted to BBC iPlayer with NordVPNAccess granted to BBC iPlayer with NordVPN

So, yes, you should feel secure in getting NordVPN for streaming shows overseas. Check out our guide to see how to use a VPN to watch US Netflix for a good example of how this works.

Ookla Speed of NordVPNOokla Speed of NordVPN

NordVPN claims that it is officially the fastest VPN available on the market. And you know what…they’re absolutely correct. Not only has that been independently verified, but we can say that based on our tests running NordVPN servers in both the US and UK that NordVPN is very fast. While every VPN will inevitably slow down your internet speed, NordVPN hardly made a dent in ours.

Here are the results of our own Howchoo tests with NordVPN, from the US mainland using Ookla Speed Test.

Measure Without a VPN NordVPN (US server) NordVPN (UK server)
ping 15ms 30ms 115ms
download speed 88.21 Mbps 62.65 Mbps 61.62 Mbps
upload speed 10.85 Mbps 10.75 Mbps 8.98 Mbps

You can see that using NordVPN only slightly increased our ping and lowered our download speed, but not by margins that would be very noticeable.

Important for those looking to VPN into a global server: While our ping obviously went up, it’s still well within the acceptable range for performing most tasks on a global server, including streaming video. There’s almost no difference in download and upload speed when using NordVPN on the UK server.

VPN Protocols NordVPNVPN Protocols NordVPN

NordVPN offers all of the standard VPN protocols that you would expect from a VPN provider, including a form of the new Wireguard protocol called NordLynx.

What is a VPN protocol?

In short, VPN protocols are the specific kinds of processes that form your VPN tunnel. Thus, they each have their own unique security and privacy features, as well as their own unique vulnerabilities. It’s important to choose the correct VPN protocol for your specific needs. NordVPN has built-in features to help you choose this.

Types of protocols offered by NordVPN

OpenVPN

The recommended general-use protocol, OpenVPN, is included in NordVPN. What’s unique, however, is that with NordVPN, you can choose between either the TCP or UDP internet protocols depending on what your VPN needs are. OpenVPN is an open-source protocol, making it very secure.

IPSec/IKEv2

For those looking for the most stable VPN protocol, NordVPN offers the IKEv2 protocol, though notes that Windows users will likely have the easiest time running this particular VPN protocol.

Wireguard (NordLynx)

The newest and fastest VPN protocol available, Wireguard, is available from NordVPN as “NordLynx.” This open-source protocol is lightning fast, due to its minimal coding. This is the preferred protocol for those wanting speed, like gamers or those wanting to stream video.

SSTP

SSTP, or Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol, is a protocol owned and operated by Microsoft, which may make some wary of the privacy it offers. Still, it’s a secure and good protocol for average use.

VPN ServersVPN Servers
NordVPN

As of the publication of this review (Nov. 2020), NordVPN has 5,481 Servers in 59 countries worldwide. That’s more than NordVPN’s closest competitor, ExpressVPN, and they offer a variety of different server types depending on what your needs are.

Types of Servers

NordVPN offers 4 main server types in most major countries to which you can connect.

Regular

The regular (standard) VPN server replaces your IP address and encrypts your internet traffic.

P2P

Optimized for file sharing, these NordVPN servers are built for speed.

Obfuscated

Use an obfuscated VPN server to prevent being blocked from accessing information in countries with restrictions, e.g. China or Iran.

Double VPN

This is ultra-security! Your internet traffic goes through an additional VPN server, which doubles its encryption.

Dedicated IPs

This is a unique feature for NordVPN users who connect to a server in the US or some major European countries. Essentially, you are given a dedicated IP address for your use while connected, which prevents you from appearing as a robot on the internet and in Captcha services.

NordVPN explains more about servers

VPN SecurityVPN Security

Like any VPN, NordVPN creates a funnel that encrypts your data and protects it from hackers or anyone looking to obtain your data. The encrypted data will look like an unreadable scramble to anyone trying to see your data, even your ISP.

AES 256-bit encryption

NordVPN uses AES 256-bit encryption. This is the current gold standard for encryption, approved for security by even the NSA. It ensures that unless someone was to build an impossible supercomputer, it’s impossible to decipher the data.

Independently verified

A company trying to sell you its product can make big claims about the security of their product, of course. With NordVPN, that security has been tested independently a number of times by security firms like PricewaterhouseCoopers AG Switzerland and many others.

Website check for security

NordVPN takes security seriously enough to include a built-in way to check if your VPN is working right on their home page.

VPN PrivacyVPN Privacy
Emsisoft

When using a VPN, the only entity able to see your internet traffic is the VPN provider, so it’s important to understand what they’re tracking (if anything).

Using any VPN like Nord VPN increases your internet privacy by blocking access to your internet traffic to anyone monitoring it, including your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Your ISP monitors your traffic and behavior, and will sometimes even give that data over to advertisers and government agencies.

When using a VPN, the only entity able to see your internet traffic is the VPN provider, so it’s important to understand what they’re tracking (if anything).

NordVPN’s no-log policy

NordVPN does not log or save information about anything you do while using the internet, including browsing history to download history. This means that even if NordVPN is hacked, there will be nothing there to steal. And even if compelled to give over data by a government agency, they have no data to give.

Cryptocurrency payment

Inevitably the only record that NordVPN will have of you is your payment record when you purchase NordPVN and your email address. You can skirt even this by employing your ninja skills and paying with a cryptocurrency!

Yes.

While we did just sing the praises of NordVPN’s security and privacy features, NordVPN was hacked in March 2018. NordVPN claims that the hack affected a single server in Finland. The hacker was able to access and monitor internet traffic for users on the server for a brief period of time.

NordVPN claims that it has found the source of the problem and claims that the hack is unrepeatable. They’ve also moved to a no-log policy, which should prevent your traffic from being monitored even if they were hacked again in the future.

Here is NordVPN’s official response.

Five stars for the NordVPN interface and applications!

Maybe the best thing about NordVPN is how intuitive and easy to use it is. As the GIF above demonstrates, you just click Connect and you’re secure.

Quick Connect

When you just want to connect to the best available VPN to secure your internet data, then the quick connect feature is what you’ll use. It’s simple and can be customized further in the NordVPN settings—if you’re looking to use a specific kind of protocol for example. On mobile, iOS has new compatibility features for VPNs, allowing you to easily turn on and turn off your VPN. And using the VPN on an Android was also very easy.

Auto-connect

You can set up NordVPN to auto-connect anytime you log into your computer or your mobile device. It will perform a quick connect and follow any protocols you may have customized.

Global VPN connection

When choosing a VPN server in another country with NordVPN, you can choose from the various types of VPN protocols offered by simply right-clicking the country in your application.

VPN PlatformsVPN Platforms

NordVPN supports most major operating systems and includes two browser extensions.

Desktop Operating Systems Mobile OS Browser Extensions
macOS, Windows, Linux iOS, Android Chrome, Firefox

Great on desktop and in browser

Howchoo has the chance to test our NordVPN on macOS, in Firefox, and on the iPhone iOS. In both macOS and the Firefox browser, we found NordVPN to be easy-to-use, start, and caused little slowdown in our daily use.

Problem with iOS VPN

On the iPhone, however, we did have to constantly bypass Google’s Captcha service, as we were not given a dedicated IP address to use on the mobile device.

BitTorrentBitTorrent

While we will not advocate for peer-to-peer file sharing through the BitTorrent network, there are many who have tested this successfully. So it’s definitely possible.

NordVPN, themselves, have written guides on setting up BitTorrent with NordVPN.

NordVPN Kill SwitchNordVPN Kill Switch

The “kill switch” feature from NordVPN adds an additional layer of security to using their VPN. This comes standard with any NordVPN package.

What is the “kill switch”?

Well, let’s say your browsing the internet using NordVPN, and your connection accidentally gets dropped. Normally, there would be a period where you would be using the internet unprotected.

With “kill switch” active, however, NordVPN will automatically stop your connection to the internet on any device with which you use it. It will remain blocked for your security until you either restore your connection to the VPN or turn off the “kill switch.”

NordVPN GeoBlockNordVPN GeoBlock

NordVPN can be used to access data in countries that have restricted it, in the same way that I used it to get access to the BBC iPlayer.

For example, if you live in the EU and are frustrated by the GDPR, you can use NordVPN to gain access to the US news sources that you typically would be blocked from accessing.

Can NordVPN bypass geoblocking in China?

Yes. If you are living or visiting China, you can use NordVPN to access the blocked part of the internet like Facebook and Twitter. NordVPN explains the process, as well as the legality of doing this.

NordVPN Support PageNordVPN Support Page

Huge props to NordVPN for building a wide knowledge base of content that can help its users solve just about any issue that may arise. In our experience, if we needed anything, chances were that NordVPN had an excellent article ready-made for us to use to solve an issue.

They also offer 24/7 chat support that provides friendly answers to simple questions, and you can email them with any issue that can’t be dealt with via chat.

No phone support

Alas, NordVPN has gone the way of many companies and offer only chat-based support options or email. We get it. Still, there are some who prefer the immediacy of chatting with someone on the phone regarding an issue. There’s no findable support phone number for NordVPN.

Onion Over GraphicOnion Over Graphic
NordVPN

NordVPN‘s Onion over VPN feature allows a user to route their traffic through the Onion network, which previously was only available when using the Tor browser. Just choose an Onion over VPN server when connecting with NordVPN, and your traffic will be routed through the Onion network!

Here’s a great video from NordVPN explaining more about this.

adblockeradblocker
NordVPN

We absolutely love that NordVPN comes with a malware and adware blocker built-in to its service. NordVPN calls theirs “CyberSec.” You can turn this feature on or off in the desktop app settings or browser extension settings.

Essentially, CyberSec blocks sites that host malware or phishing scams, which makes you safe from online threats. It also removes big, bright ads, which speeds up your browsing.

Easily the best VPN for speed and security currently available.

And best of all, the price is fairly reasonable when you consider everything that’s included. (It’s cheaper than ExpressVPN, for example, and offers a bit more.)

We like that our team can work on major projects remotely with the added security of having NordVPN protecting our content and data. And because we’re all working from home, we also enjoy not having our ISP keeping a close eye on how much we download and upload throughout the day. No ISP is going to intentionally slow down Howchoo’s speed!

The bottom line—you should be concerned about your internet security, both on your desktop and mobile device. And NordVPN is a great VPN for the task!

NordPass LogoNordPass Logo

While we do like 1Password for a paid password manager, NordPass might be the best truly free password manager currently available. And, at least according to the folks at NordPass, it’s free forever.

NordPass has everything you’d expect from a password manager, like great security, password sharing, device syncing, credential saving, etc. The only caveat is that, with the free version, you’re limited to using only 1 device at a time with NordPass and you don’t get all of the other goodies they offer with their paid version.

 
2

NordVPN Review: Unreal Speed and Security

NordVPN is a great choice for remote work and connecting through international servers.
Michael Michael (110)
0
Updated: November 24th, 2020
4.75 – Our Rating

NordVPN is a virtual private network (VPN) provider, started in 2012. NordVPN routes traffic through more than 5,000 servers in 59 countries. Like Howchoo, NordVPN is the result of a few friends coming together to make something unique and awesome.

If you use NordVPN when browsing the internet, it’s nearly impossible for a hacker or anyone to see your internet activity and data.

What is a VPN?

A VPN or virtual private network allows a user to connect securely through a VPN server to access the internet. Essentially, you could access a VPN server in Great Britain, masking the fact that you’re really in the US.

What’s known as a VPN tunnel is created and acts as a kind of encrypted shield, rerouting the encrypted data through one of the VPN servers. So, for example, if you use NordVPN when browsing the internet, it’s nearly impossible for a hacker or anyone to see your internet activity and data. Even your ISP (internet service provider) will not be able to track your downloads or sell your browsing data.

Your IP address will become masked and with a service like NordVPN, you’ll be given a dedicated IP address so you don’t get bogged down by Captcha authentication.

Who should use a VPN?

Everyone. We’re not joking. Even if you don’t do anything for which you’d want privacy, your ISP still tracks your activity and sometimes puts limits on your download speed if it sees that you’ve been downloading many big files.

Those who definitely want to use this:

  • Remote companies
  • People using public WiFi
  • People looking to access a streaming service in another country
  • People trying to bypass censorship in their country
  • Online shoppers looking for the best prices
  • Anyone who prizes data security

Is it illegal?

In most places—no. There are some countries with authoritarian regimes where VPNs are illegal, such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. To see a full list of the banned countries, check out NordVPNs article on this.

What should you look for from a VPN provider?

It depends, of course, on what your needs are for the VPN. However, there are some things you should be looking for, no matter what those needs may be. We’ll call them The Three S’s of VPN providers.

  • Speed (Does it slow down your connection noticeably?)
  • Security (What security measures are in place?)
  • Servers (How many and where are they located?)

In our NordVPN review, we’ll be sure to cover those key topics, as well as a whole lot more, so you can make an informed decision when considering NordVPN as your next VPN provider.

And, yes, we’ll let you know how well it works to stream videos in another country!

NordVPNNordVPN ×1
NordPassNordPass ×1

Howchoo is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you.

As a fully-remote work team, we have a unique interest in the privacy and security a VPN like NordVPN can offer. In both of these aspects, NordVPN sets the standard by which other VPN providers (including ExpressVPN) aspire to meet. What we’re saying is that we highly recommend it.

…we’ve completely forgotten that we’ve been auto-connecting to NordVPN for the past couple of weeks. It’s that fast.

When it comes to remote work, you want a VPN that doesn’t slow down the speed at which your team can work. That’s where NordVPN will truly excel—even for individual users of the service. There’s little to no slow-down when connecting via a NordVPN server. In fact, we’ve completely forgotten that we’ve been auto-connecting to NordVPN for the past couple of weeks. It’s that fast.

And it has all the VPN goodies, options, and tricks that others will look for, as well.

Pros

  • Intuitive desktop apps and browser extensions.
  • Works for watching streaming services overseas, like Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
  • Offers a version of the new Wiregaurd protocol.
  • No-log policy.
  • Built-in adblocker and malware blocker.
  • Little speed loss, even when connecting through a global server.
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

  • Limited functionality with password managers.
  • Using NordVPN while internet browsing on mobile can be annoying, as it causes Google Captcha authentications.
  • Browser extension may cause some issues when video chatting.
  • No phone support.

Price

As of November 2020, NordVPN currently offers three buying options, which vary in terms of how long you’re looking to commit to the VPN provider and how much you’re willing to spend. Obviously, the best deal involves buying the 2-year plan upfront, and, honestly, we don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t.

Commitment Period Price
2 years $3.71/mo. ($89.00)
1 year $4.92/mo. ($59.00)
No commitment / month to month $11. 95/mo

NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you’re only looking to use it briefly to, say…watch some US Netflix…then simply go with the month-to-month plan and cancel within 30 days.

Special for November 2020

During the month of November, if you buy the two-year plan at 68% off, you get a chance at getting an extra month, a year, or even two years free!

Main NordVPN stats

Supported Platforms # of Servers # of Countries VPN Protocols Encryption Max # of Devices Dedicated Servers? Support
macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Linux (Firefox, Chrome) 5,481 59 4 (Open, IPSec/IKEv2, Wireguard, SSTP) AES 256-bit 6 Yes 24/7 chat, email

Other NordVPN stats

Built-in Adblock Does it secure a Wi-Fi router? Auto-connect Virtual Servers Breaks Geoblocks? Torrenting? Works to Stream Video Overseas? Free version?
Yes. “CyberSec” Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No. 30-day money-back guarantee
Streaming ServicesStreaming Services

We know that for many this is the feature of a VPN that matters the most. We get it…who wants to miss the new season of Stranger Things on Netflix just because you happen to overseas when it’s released. Or maybe you’re in the US, but want to access BBC’s iPlayer to watch the latest murder mystery. We’re not advocating any kind of lawbreaking here. You’ll still need to pay for the service, even if you skirt the country restrictions.

Yes. NordVPN works!

We ran a test to see if we could access the BBC iPlayer from the US, using a server located in the UK.

Here’s what happened when I tried to watch Roadkill on the BBC iPlayer from a standard US server:

Denied Access to BBC iPlayerDenied Access to BBC iPlayer

(See the notice restricting access to those in the UK?)

Here’s what happened when I tried again while connected to a NordVPN server in the UK:

Access granted to BBC iPlayer with NordVPNAccess granted to BBC iPlayer with NordVPN

So, yes, you should feel secure in getting NordVPN for streaming shows overseas. Check out our guide to see how to use a VPN to watch US Netflix for a good example of how this works.

Ookla Speed of NordVPNOokla Speed of NordVPN

NordVPN claims that it is officially the fastest VPN available on the market. And you know what…they’re absolutely correct. Not only has that been independently verified, but we can say that based on our tests running NordVPN servers in both the US and UK that NordVPN is very fast. While every VPN will inevitably slow down your internet speed, NordVPN hardly made a dent in ours.

Here are the results of our own Howchoo tests with NordVPN, from the US mainland using Ookla Speed Test.

Measure Without a VPN NordVPN (US server) NordVPN (UK server)
ping 15ms 30ms 115ms
download speed 88.21 Mbps 62.65 Mbps 61.62 Mbps
upload speed 10.85 Mbps 10.75 Mbps 8.98 Mbps

You can see that using NordVPN only slightly increased our ping and lowered our download speed, but not by margins that would be very noticeable.

Important for those looking to VPN into a global server: While our ping obviously went up, it’s still well within the acceptable range for performing most tasks on a global server, including streaming video. There’s almost no difference in download and upload speed when using NordVPN on the UK server.

VPN Protocols NordVPNVPN Protocols NordVPN

NordVPN offers all of the standard VPN protocols that you would expect from a VPN provider, including a form of the new Wireguard protocol called NordLynx.

What is a VPN protocol?

In short, VPN protocols are the specific kinds of processes that form your VPN tunnel. Thus, they each have their own unique security and privacy features, as well as their own unique vulnerabilities. It’s important to choose the correct VPN protocol for your specific needs. NordVPN has built-in features to help you choose this.

Types of protocols offered by NordVPN

OpenVPN

The recommended general-use protocol, OpenVPN, is included in NordVPN. What’s unique, however, is that with NordVPN, you can choose between either the TCP or UDP internet protocols depending on what your VPN needs are. OpenVPN is an open-source protocol, making it very secure.

IPSec/IKEv2

For those looking for the most stable VPN protocol, NordVPN offers the IKEv2 protocol, though notes that Windows users will likely have the easiest time running this particular VPN protocol.

Wireguard (NordLynx)

The newest and fastest VPN protocol available, Wireguard, is available from NordVPN as “NordLynx.” This open-source protocol is lightning fast, due to its minimal coding. This is the preferred protocol for those wanting speed, like gamers or those wanting to stream video.

SSTP

SSTP, or Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol, is a protocol owned and operated by Microsoft, which may make some wary of the privacy it offers. Still, it’s a secure and good protocol for average use.

VPN ServersVPN Servers
NordVPN

As of the publication of this review (Nov. 2020), NordVPN has 5,481 Servers in 59 countries worldwide. That’s more than NordVPN’s closest competitor, ExpressVPN, and they offer a variety of different server types depending on what your needs are.

Types of Servers

NordVPN offers 4 main server types in most major countries to which you can connect.

Regular

The regular (standard) VPN server replaces your IP address and encrypts your internet traffic.

P2P

Optimized for file sharing, these NordVPN servers are built for speed.

Obfuscated

Use an obfuscated VPN server to prevent being blocked from accessing information in countries with restrictions, e.g. China or Iran.

Double VPN

This is ultra-security! Your internet traffic goes through an additional VPN server, which doubles its encryption.

Dedicated IPs

This is a unique feature for NordVPN users who connect to a server in the US or some major European countries. Essentially, you are given a dedicated IP address for your use while connected, which prevents you from appearing as a robot on the internet and in Captcha services.

NordVPN explains more about servers

VPN SecurityVPN Security

Like any VPN, NordVPN creates a funnel that encrypts your data and protects it from hackers or anyone looking to obtain your data. The encrypted data will look like an unreadable scramble to anyone trying to see your data, even your ISP.

AES 256-bit encryption

NordVPN uses AES 256-bit encryption. This is the current gold standard for encryption, approved for security by even the NSA. It ensures that unless someone was to build an impossible supercomputer, it’s impossible to decipher the data.

Independently verified

A company trying to sell you its product can make big claims about the security of their product, of course. With NordVPN, that security has been tested independently a number of times by security firms like PricewaterhouseCoopers AG Switzerland and many others.

Website check for security

NordVPN takes security seriously enough to include a built-in way to check if your VPN is working right on their home page.

VPN PrivacyVPN Privacy
Emsisoft

When using a VPN, the only entity able to see your internet traffic is the VPN provider, so it’s important to understand what they’re tracking (if anything).

Using any VPN like Nord VPN increases your internet privacy by blocking access to your internet traffic to anyone monitoring it, including your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Your ISP monitors your traffic and behavior, and will sometimes even give that data over to advertisers and government agencies.

When using a VPN, the only entity able to see your internet traffic is the VPN provider, so it’s important to understand what they’re tracking (if anything).

NordVPN’s no-log policy

NordVPN does not log or save information about anything you do while using the internet, including browsing history to download history. This means that even if NordVPN is hacked, there will be nothing there to steal. And even if compelled to give over data by a government agency, they have no data to give.

Cryptocurrency payment

Inevitably the only record that NordVPN will have of you is your payment record when you purchase NordPVN and your email address. You can skirt even this by employing your ninja skills and paying with a cryptocurrency!

Yes.

While we did just sing the praises of NordVPN’s security and privacy features, NordVPN was hacked in March 2018. NordVPN claims that the hack affected a single server in Finland. The hacker was able to access and monitor internet traffic for users on the server for a brief period of time.

NordVPN claims that it has found the source of the problem and claims that the hack is unrepeatable. They’ve also moved to a no-log policy, which should prevent your traffic from being monitored even if they were hacked again in the future.

Here is NordVPN’s official response.

Five stars for the NordVPN interface and applications!

Maybe the best thing about NordVPN is how intuitive and easy to use it is. As the GIF above demonstrates, you just click Connect and you’re secure.

Quick Connect

When you just want to connect to the best available VPN to secure your internet data, then the quick connect feature is what you’ll use. It’s simple and can be customized further in the NordVPN settings—if you’re looking to use a specific kind of protocol for example. On mobile, iOS has new compatibility features for VPNs, allowing you to easily turn on and turn off your VPN. And using the VPN on an Android was also very easy.

Auto-connect

You can set up NordVPN to auto-connect anytime you log into your computer or your mobile device. It will perform a quick connect and follow any protocols you may have customized.

Global VPN connection

When choosing a VPN server in another country with NordVPN, you can choose from the various types of VPN protocols offered by simply right-clicking the country in your application.

VPN PlatformsVPN Platforms

NordVPN supports most major operating systems and includes two browser extensions.

Desktop Operating Systems Mobile OS Browser Extensions
macOS, Windows, Linux iOS, Android Chrome, Firefox

Great on desktop and in browser

Howchoo has the chance to test our NordVPN on macOS, in Firefox, and on the iPhone iOS. In both macOS and the Firefox browser, we found NordVPN to be easy-to-use, start, and caused little slowdown in our daily use.

Problem with iOS VPN

On the iPhone, however, we did have to constantly bypass Google’s Captcha service, as we were not given a dedicated IP address to use on the mobile device.

BitTorrentBitTorrent

While we will not advocate for peer-to-peer file sharing through the BitTorrent network, there are many who have tested this successfully. So it’s definitely possible.

NordVPN, themselves, have written guides on setting up BitTorrent with NordVPN.

NordVPN Kill SwitchNordVPN Kill Switch

The “kill switch” feature from NordVPN adds an additional layer of security to using their VPN. This comes standard with any NordVPN package.

What is the “kill switch”?

Well, let’s say your browsing the internet using NordVPN, and your connection accidentally gets dropped. Normally, there would be a period where you would be using the internet unprotected.

With “kill switch” active, however, NordVPN will automatically stop your connection to the internet on any device with which you use it. It will remain blocked for your security until you either restore your connection to the VPN or turn off the “kill switch.”

NordVPN GeoBlockNordVPN GeoBlock

NordVPN can be used to access data in countries that have restricted it, in the same way that I used it to get access to the BBC iPlayer.

For example, if you live in the EU and are frustrated by the GDPR, you can use NordVPN to gain access to the US news sources that you typically would be blocked from accessing.

Can NordVPN bypass geoblocking in China?

Yes. If you are living or visiting China, you can use NordVPN to access the blocked part of the internet like Facebook and Twitter. NordVPN explains the process, as well as the legality of doing this.

NordVPN Support PageNordVPN Support Page

Huge props to NordVPN for building a wide knowledge base of content that can help its users solve just about any issue that may arise. In our experience, if we needed anything, chances were that NordVPN had an excellent article ready-made for us to use to solve an issue.

They also offer 24/7 chat support that provides friendly answers to simple questions, and you can email them with any issue that can’t be dealt with via chat.

No phone support

Alas, NordVPN has gone the way of many companies and offer only chat-based support options or email. We get it. Still, there are some who prefer the immediacy of chatting with someone on the phone regarding an issue. There’s no findable support phone number for NordVPN.

Onion Over GraphicOnion Over Graphic
NordVPN

NordVPN‘s Onion over VPN feature allows a user to route their traffic through the Onion network, which previously was only available when using the Tor browser. Just choose an Onion over VPN server when connecting with NordVPN, and your traffic will be routed through the Onion network!

Here’s a great video from NordVPN explaining more about this.

adblockeradblocker
NordVPN

We absolutely love that NordVPN comes with a malware and adware blocker built-in to its service. NordVPN calls theirs “CyberSec.” You can turn this feature on or off in the desktop app settings or browser extension settings.

Essentially, CyberSec blocks sites that host malware or phishing scams, which makes you safe from online threats. It also removes big, bright ads, which speeds up your browsing.

Easily the best VPN for speed and security currently available.

And best of all, the price is fairly reasonable when you consider everything that’s included. (It’s cheaper than ExpressVPN, for example, and offers a bit more.)

We like that our team can work on major projects remotely with the added security of having NordVPN protecting our content and data. And because we’re all working from home, we also enjoy not having our ISP keeping a close eye on how much we download and upload throughout the day. No ISP is going to intentionally slow down Howchoo’s speed!

The bottom line—you should be concerned about your internet security, both on your desktop and mobile device. And NordVPN is a great VPN for the task!

NordPass LogoNordPass Logo

While we do like 1Password for a paid password manager, NordPass might be the best truly free password manager currently available. And, at least according to the folks at NordPass, it’s free forever.

NordPass has everything you’d expect from a password manager, like great security, password sharing, device syncing, credential saving, etc. The only caveat is that, with the free version, you’re limited to using only 1 device at a time with NordPass and you don’t get all of the other goodies they offer with their paid version.

NordVPN Review: Unreal Speed and Security

NordVPN is a great choice for remote work and connecting through international servers.
Michael Michael (110)
0
Updated: November 24th, 2020
4.75 – Our Rating

NordVPN is a virtual private network (VPN) provider, started in 2012. NordVPN routes traffic through more than 5,000 servers in 59 countries. Like Howchoo, NordVPN is the result of a few friends coming together to make something unique and awesome.

If you use NordVPN when browsing the internet, it’s nearly impossible for a hacker or anyone to see your internet activity and data.

What is a VPN?

A VPN or virtual private network allows a user to connect securely through a VPN server to access the internet. Essentially, you could access a VPN server in Great Britain, masking the fact that you’re really in the US.

What’s known as a VPN tunnel is created and acts as a kind of encrypted shield, rerouting the encrypted data through one of the VPN servers. So, for example, if you use NordVPN when browsing the internet, it’s nearly impossible for a hacker or anyone to see your internet activity and data. Even your ISP (internet service provider) will not be able to track your downloads or sell your browsing data.

Your IP address will become masked and with a service like NordVPN, you’ll be given a dedicated IP address so you don’t get bogged down by Captcha authentication.

Who should use a VPN?

Everyone. We’re not joking. Even if you don’t do anything for which you’d want privacy, your ISP still tracks your activity and sometimes puts limits on your download speed if it sees that you’ve been downloading many big files.

Those who definitely want to use this:

  • Remote companies
  • People using public WiFi
  • People looking to access a streaming service in another country
  • People trying to bypass censorship in their country
  • Online shoppers looking for the best prices
  • Anyone who prizes data security

Is it illegal?

In most places—no. There are some countries with authoritarian regimes where VPNs are illegal, such as China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. To see a full list of the banned countries, check out NordVPNs article on this.

What should you look for from a VPN provider?

It depends, of course, on what your needs are for the VPN. However, there are some things you should be looking for, no matter what those needs may be. We’ll call them The Three S’s of VPN providers.

  • Speed (Does it slow down your connection noticeably?)
  • Security (What security measures are in place?)
  • Servers (How many and where are they located?)

In our NordVPN review, we’ll be sure to cover those key topics, as well as a whole lot more, so you can make an informed decision when considering NordVPN as your next VPN provider.

And, yes, we’ll let you know how well it works to stream videos in another country!

NordVPNNordVPN ×1
NordPassNordPass ×1

Howchoo is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you.

NordVPN Review: Unreal Speed and Security

NordVPN is a great choice for remote work and connecting through international servers.
Michael Michael (110)
0
Updated: November 24th, 2020
Michael
 
2
4.75 – Our Rating
NordVPNNordVPN ×1
NordPassNordPass ×1

Howchoo is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you.

NordVPNNordVPN ×1
NordPassNordPass ×1
NordVPNNordPass
Table of Contents

NordVPN Review:

  1. Verdict
  2. Stats
  3. Can it unblock streaming services? (Netflix, Disney +, etc)
  4. Speed
  5. VPN Protocols
  6. Servers
  7. Security
  8. Privacy
  9. Has NordVPN been hacked?
  10. Ease of Use
  11. Supported platforms and browsers
  12. Torrenting
  13. Kill Switch
  14. Geoblocking
  15. Support
  16. Onion over VPN
  17. CyberSec (Adware blocker)
  18. Bottom line
  19. Bonus: NordPass
  20. Show all 19
 
2
In these interests
h/nordvpn • 4 guides
h/security • 32 guides
VPN Logo
h/vpn • 9 guides
h/nordvpn • 4 guides
h/security • 32 guides
VPN Logo
h/vpn • 9 guides
VPN Logo

As a fully-remote work team, we have a unique interest in the privacy and security a VPN like NordVPN can offer. In both of these aspects, NordVPN sets the standard by which other VPN providers (including ExpressVPN) aspire to meet. What we’re saying is that we highly recommend it.

…we’ve completely forgotten that we’ve been auto-connecting to NordVPN for the past couple of weeks. It’s that fast.

When it comes to remote work, you want a VPN that doesn’t slow down the speed at which your team can work. That’s where NordVPN will truly excel—even for individual users of the service. There’s little to no slow-down when connecting via a NordVPN server. In fact, we’ve completely forgotten that we’ve been auto-connecting to NordVPN for the past couple of weeks. It’s that fast.

And it has all the VPN goodies, options, and tricks that others will look for, as well.

Pros

  • Intuitive desktop apps and browser extensions.
  • Works for watching streaming services overseas, like Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
  • Offers a version of the new Wiregaurd protocol.
  • No-log policy.
  • Built-in adblocker and malware blocker.
  • Little speed loss, even when connecting through a global server.
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

  • Limited functionality with password managers.
  • Using NordVPN while internet browsing on mobile can be annoying, as it causes Google Captcha authentications.
  • Browser extension may cause some issues when video chatting.
  • No phone support.

Price

As of November 2020, NordVPN currently offers three buying options, which vary in terms of how long you’re looking to commit to the VPN provider and how much you’re willing to spend. Obviously, the best deal involves buying the 2-year plan upfront, and, honestly, we don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t.

Commitment Period Price
2 years $3.71/mo. ($89.00)
1 year $4.92/mo. ($59.00)
No commitment / month to month $11. 95/mo

NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you’re only looking to use it briefly to, say…watch some US Netflix…then simply go with the month-to-month plan and cancel within 30 days.

Special for November 2020

During the month of November, if you buy the two-year plan at 68% off, you get a chance at getting an extra month, a year, or even two years free!

Main NordVPN stats

Supported Platforms # of Servers # of Countries VPN Protocols Encryption Max # of Devices Dedicated Servers? Support
macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Linux (Firefox, Chrome) 5,481 59 4 (Open, IPSec/IKEv2, Wireguard, SSTP) AES 256-bit 6 Yes 24/7 chat, email

Other NordVPN stats

Built-in Adblock Does it secure a Wi-Fi router? Auto-connect Virtual Servers Breaks Geoblocks? Torrenting? Works to Stream Video Overseas? Free version?
Yes. “CyberSec” Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No. 30-day money-back guarantee
Streaming ServicesStreaming Services

We know that for many this is the feature of a VPN that matters the most. We get it…who wants to miss the new season of Stranger Things on Netflix just because you happen to overseas when it’s released. Or maybe you’re in the US, but want to access BBC’s iPlayer to watch the latest murder mystery. We’re not advocating any kind of lawbreaking here. You’ll still need to pay for the service, even if you skirt the country restrictions.

Yes. NordVPN works!

We ran a test to see if we could access the BBC iPlayer from the US, using a server located in the UK.

Here’s what happened when I tried to watch Roadkill on the BBC iPlayer from a standard US server:

Denied Access to BBC iPlayerDenied Access to BBC iPlayer

(See the notice restricting access to those in the UK?)

Here’s what happened when I tried again while connected to a NordVPN server in the UK:

Access granted to BBC iPlayer with NordVPNAccess granted to BBC iPlayer with NordVPN

So, yes, you should feel secure in getting NordVPN for streaming shows overseas. Check out our guide to see how to use a VPN to watch US Netflix for a good example of how this works.

Ookla Speed of NordVPNOokla Speed of NordVPN

NordVPN claims that it is officially the fastest VPN available on the market. And you know what…they’re absolutely correct. Not only has that been independently verified, but we can say that based on our tests running NordVPN servers in both the US and UK that NordVPN is very fast. While every VPN will inevitably slow down your internet speed, NordVPN hardly made a dent in ours.

Here are the results of our own Howchoo tests with NordVPN, from the US mainland using Ookla Speed Test.

Measure Without a VPN NordVPN (US server) NordVPN (UK server)
ping 15ms 30ms 115ms
download speed 88.21 Mbps 62.65 Mbps 61.62 Mbps
upload speed 10.85 Mbps 10.75 Mbps 8.98 Mbps

You can see that using NordVPN only slightly increased our ping and lowered our download speed, but not by margins that would be very noticeable.

Important for those looking to VPN into a global server: While our ping obviously went up, it’s still well within the acceptable range for performing most tasks on a global server, including streaming video. There’s almost no difference in download and upload speed when using NordVPN on the UK server.

VPN Protocols NordVPNVPN Protocols NordVPN

NordVPN offers all of the standard VPN protocols that you would expect from a VPN provider, including a form of the new Wireguard protocol called NordLynx.

What is a VPN protocol?

In short, VPN protocols are the specific kinds of processes that form your VPN tunnel. Thus, they each have their own unique security and privacy features, as well as their own unique vulnerabilities. It’s important to choose the correct VPN protocol for your specific needs. NordVPN has built-in features to help you choose this.

Types of protocols offered by NordVPN

OpenVPN

The recommended general-use protocol, OpenVPN, is included in NordVPN. What’s unique, however, is that with NordVPN, you can choose between either the TCP or UDP internet protocols depending on what your VPN needs are. OpenVPN is an open-source protocol, making it very secure.

IPSec/IKEv2

For those looking for the most stable VPN protocol, NordVPN offers the IKEv2 protocol, though notes that Windows users will likely have the easiest time running this particular VPN protocol.

Wireguard (NordLynx)

The newest and fastest VPN protocol available, Wireguard, is available from NordVPN as “NordLynx.” This open-source protocol is lightning fast, due to its minimal coding. This is the preferred protocol for those wanting speed, like gamers or those wanting to stream video.

SSTP

SSTP, or Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol, is a protocol owned and operated by Microsoft, which may make some wary of the privacy it offers. Still, it’s a secure and good protocol for average use.

VPN ServersVPN Servers
NordVPN

As of the publication of this review (Nov. 2020), NordVPN has 5,481 Servers in 59 countries worldwide. That’s more than NordVPN’s closest competitor, ExpressVPN, and they offer a variety of different server types depending on what your needs are.

Types of Servers

NordVPN offers 4 main server types in most major countries to which you can connect.

Regular

The regular (standard) VPN server replaces your IP address and encrypts your internet traffic.

P2P

Optimized for file sharing, these NordVPN servers are built for speed.

Obfuscated

Use an obfuscated VPN server to prevent being blocked from accessing information in countries with restrictions, e.g. China or Iran.

Double VPN

This is ultra-security! Your internet traffic goes through an additional VPN server, which doubles its encryption.

Dedicated IPs

This is a unique feature for NordVPN users who connect to a server in the US or some major European countries. Essentially, you are given a dedicated IP address for your use while connected, which prevents you from appearing as a robot on the internet and in Captcha services.

NordVPN explains more about servers

VPN SecurityVPN Security

Like any VPN, NordVPN creates a funnel that encrypts your data and protects it from hackers or anyone looking to obtain your data. The encrypted data will look like an unreadable scramble to anyone trying to see your data, even your ISP.

AES 256-bit encryption

NordVPN uses AES 256-bit encryption. This is the current gold standard for encryption, approved for security by even the NSA. It ensures that unless someone was to build an impossible supercomputer, it’s impossible to decipher the data.

Independently verified

A company trying to sell you its product can make big claims about the security of their product, of course. With NordVPN, that security has been tested independently a number of times by security firms like PricewaterhouseCoopers AG Switzerland and many others.

Website check for security

NordVPN takes security seriously enough to include a built-in way to check if your VPN is working right on their home page.

VPN PrivacyVPN Privacy
Emsisoft

When using a VPN, the only entity able to see your internet traffic is the VPN provider, so it’s important to understand what they’re tracking (if anything).

Using any VPN like Nord VPN increases your internet privacy by blocking access to your internet traffic to anyone monitoring it, including your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Your ISP monitors your traffic and behavior, and will sometimes even give that data over to advertisers and government agencies.

When using a VPN, the only entity able to see your internet traffic is the VPN provider, so it’s important to understand what they’re tracking (if anything).

NordVPN’s no-log policy

NordVPN does not log or save information about anything you do while using the internet, including browsing history to download history. This means that even if NordVPN is hacked, there will be nothing there to steal. And even if compelled to give over data by a government agency, they have no data to give.

Cryptocurrency payment

Inevitably the only record that NordVPN will have of you is your payment record when you purchase NordPVN and your email address. You can skirt even this by employing your ninja skills and paying with a cryptocurrency!

Yes.

While we did just sing the praises of NordVPN’s security and privacy features, NordVPN was hacked in March 2018. NordVPN claims that the hack affected a single server in Finland. The hacker was able to access and monitor internet traffic for users on the server for a brief period of time.

NordVPN claims that it has found the source of the problem and claims that the hack is unrepeatable. They’ve also moved to a no-log policy, which should prevent your traffic from being monitored even if they were hacked again in the future.

Here is NordVPN’s official response.

Five stars for the NordVPN interface and applications!

Maybe the best thing about NordVPN is how intuitive and easy to use it is. As the GIF above demonstrates, you just click Connect and you’re secure.

Quick Connect

When you just want to connect to the best available VPN to secure your internet data, then the quick connect feature is what you’ll use. It’s simple and can be customized further in the NordVPN settings—if you’re looking to use a specific kind of protocol for example. On mobile, iOS has new compatibility features for VPNs, allowing you to easily turn on and turn off your VPN. And using the VPN on an Android was also very easy.

Auto-connect

You can set up NordVPN to auto-connect anytime you log into your computer or your mobile device. It will perform a quick connect and follow any protocols you may have customized.

Global VPN connection

When choosing a VPN server in another country with NordVPN, you can choose from the various types of VPN protocols offered by simply right-clicking the country in your application.

VPN PlatformsVPN Platforms

NordVPN supports most major operating systems and includes two browser extensions.

Desktop Operating Systems Mobile OS Browser Extensions
macOS, Windows, Linux iOS, Android Chrome, Firefox

Great on desktop and in browser

Howchoo has the chance to test our NordVPN on macOS, in Firefox, and on the iPhone iOS. In both macOS and the Firefox browser, we found NordVPN to be easy-to-use, start, and caused little slowdown in our daily use.

Problem with iOS VPN

On the iPhone, however, we did have to constantly bypass Google’s Captcha service, as we were not given a dedicated IP address to use on the mobile device.

BitTorrentBitTorrent

While we will not advocate for peer-to-peer file sharing through the BitTorrent network, there are many who have tested this successfully. So it’s definitely possible.

NordVPN, themselves, have written guides on setting up BitTorrent with NordVPN.

NordVPN Kill SwitchNordVPN Kill Switch

The “kill switch” feature from NordVPN adds an additional layer of security to using their VPN. This comes standard with any NordVPN package.

What is the “kill switch”?

Well, let’s say your browsing the internet using NordVPN, and your connection accidentally gets dropped. Normally, there would be a period where you would be using the internet unprotected.

With “kill switch” active, however, NordVPN will automatically stop your connection to the internet on any device with which you use it. It will remain blocked for your security until you either restore your connection to the VPN or turn off the “kill switch.”

NordVPN GeoBlockNordVPN GeoBlock

NordVPN can be used to access data in countries that have restricted it, in the same way that I used it to get access to the BBC iPlayer.

For example, if you live in the EU and are frustrated by the GDPR, you can use NordVPN to gain access to the US news sources that you typically would be blocked from accessing.

Can NordVPN bypass geoblocking in China?

Yes. If you are living or visiting China, you can use NordVPN to access the blocked part of the internet like Facebook and Twitter. NordVPN explains the process, as well as the legality of doing this.

NordVPN Support PageNordVPN Support Page

Huge props to NordVPN for building a wide knowledge base of content that can help its users solve just about any issue that may arise. In our experience, if we needed anything, chances were that NordVPN had an excellent article ready-made for us to use to solve an issue.

They also offer 24/7 chat support that provides friendly answers to simple questions, and you can email them with any issue that can’t be dealt with via chat.

No phone support

Alas, NordVPN has gone the way of many companies and offer only chat-based support options or email. We get it. Still, there are some who prefer the immediacy of chatting with someone on the phone regarding an issue. There’s no findable support phone number for NordVPN.

Onion Over GraphicOnion Over Graphic
NordVPN

NordVPN‘s Onion over VPN feature allows a user to route their traffic through the Onion network, which previously was only available when using the Tor browser. Just choose an Onion over VPN server when connecting with NordVPN, and your traffic will be routed through the Onion network!

Here’s a great video from NordVPN explaining more about this.

adblockeradblocker
NordVPN

We absolutely love that NordVPN comes with a malware and adware blocker built-in to its service. NordVPN calls theirs “CyberSec.” You can turn this feature on or off in the desktop app settings or browser extension settings.

Essentially, CyberSec blocks sites that host malware or phishing scams, which makes you safe from online threats. It also removes big, bright ads, which speeds up your browsing.

Easily the best VPN for speed and security currently available.

And best of all, the price is fairly reasonable when you consider everything that’s included. (It’s cheaper than ExpressVPN, for example, and offers a bit more.)

We like that our team can work on major projects remotely with the added security of having NordVPN protecting our content and data. And because we’re all working from home, we also enjoy not having our ISP keeping a close eye on how much we download and upload throughout the day. No ISP is going to intentionally slow down Howchoo’s speed!

The bottom line—you should be concerned about your internet security, both on your desktop and mobile device. And NordVPN is a great VPN for the task!

NordPass LogoNordPass Logo

While we do like 1Password for a paid password manager, NordPass might be the best truly free password manager currently available. And, at least according to the folks at NordPass, it’s free forever.

NordPass has everything you’d expect from a password manager, like great security, password sharing, device syncing, credential saving, etc. The only caveat is that, with the free version, you’re limited to using only 1 device at a time with NordPass and you don’t get all of the other goodies they offer with their paid version.

As a fully-remote work team, we have a unique interest in the privacy and security a VPN like NordVPN can offer. In both of these aspects, NordVPN sets the standard by which other VPN providers (including ExpressVPN) aspire to meet. What we’re saying is that we highly recommend it.

…we’ve completely forgotten that we’ve been auto-connecting to NordVPN for the past couple of weeks. It’s that fast.

When it comes to remote work, you want a VPN that doesn’t slow down the speed at which your team can work. That’s where NordVPN will truly excel—even for individual users of the service. There’s little to no slow-down when connecting via a NordVPN server. In fact, we’ve completely forgotten that we’ve been auto-connecting to NordVPN for the past couple of weeks. It’s that fast.

And it has all the VPN goodies, options, and tricks that others will look for, as well.

Pros

  • Intuitive desktop apps and browser extensions.
  • Works for watching streaming services overseas, like Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
  • Offers a version of the new Wiregaurd protocol.
  • No-log policy.
  • Built-in adblocker and malware blocker.
  • Little speed loss, even when connecting through a global server.
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

  • Limited functionality with password managers.
  • Using NordVPN while internet browsing on mobile can be annoying, as it causes Google Captcha authentications.
  • Browser extension may cause some issues when video chatting.
  • No phone support.

Price

As of November 2020, NordVPN currently offers three buying options, which vary in terms of how long you’re looking to commit to the VPN provider and how much you’re willing to spend. Obviously, the best deal involves buying the 2-year plan upfront, and, honestly, we don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t.

Commitment Period Price
2 years $3.71/mo. ($89.00)
1 year $4.92/mo. ($59.00)
No commitment / month to month $11. 95/mo

NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you’re only looking to use it briefly to, say…watch some US Netflix…then simply go with the month-to-month plan and cancel within 30 days.

Special for November 2020

During the month of November, if you buy the two-year plan at 68% off, you get a chance at getting an extra month, a year, or even two years free!

As a fully-remote work team, we have a unique interest in the privacy and security a VPN like NordVPN can offer. In both of these aspects, NordVPN sets the standard by which other VPN providers (including ExpressVPN) aspire to meet. What we’re saying is that we highly recommend it.

…we’ve completely forgotten that we’ve been auto-connecting to NordVPN for the past couple of weeks. It’s that fast.

When it comes to remote work, you want a VPN that doesn’t slow down the speed at which your team can work. That’s where NordVPN will truly excel—even for individual users of the service. There’s little to no slow-down when connecting via a NordVPN server. In fact, we’ve completely forgotten that we’ve been auto-connecting to NordVPN for the past couple of weeks. It’s that fast.

And it has all the VPN goodies, options, and tricks that others will look for, as well.

Pros

  • Intuitive desktop apps and browser extensions.
  • Works for watching streaming services overseas, like Netflix and BBC iPlayer.
  • Offers a version of the new Wiregaurd protocol.
  • No-log policy.
  • Built-in adblocker and malware blocker.
  • Little speed loss, even when connecting through a global server.
  • 30-day money-back guarantee

Cons

  • Limited functionality with password managers.
  • Using NordVPN while internet browsing on mobile can be annoying, as it causes Google Captcha authentications.
  • Browser extension may cause some issues when video chatting.
  • No phone support.

Price

As of November 2020, NordVPN currently offers three buying options, which vary in terms of how long you’re looking to commit to the VPN provider and how much you’re willing to spend. Obviously, the best deal involves buying the 2-year plan upfront, and, honestly, we don’t see any reason why you shouldn’t.

Commitment Period Price
2 years $3.71/mo. ($89.00)
1 year $4.92/mo. ($59.00)
No commitment / month to month $11. 95/mo

NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, so if you’re only looking to use it briefly to, say…watch some US Netflix…then simply go with the month-to-month plan and cancel within 30 days.

Special for November 2020

During the month of November, if you buy the two-year plan at 68% off, you get a chance at getting an extra month, a year, or even two years free!

Verdict

Commitment Period Price
2 years $3.71/mo. ($89.00)
1 year $4.92/mo. ($59.00)
No commitment / month to month $11. 95/mo
Used here
NordVPNCheck Price

Main NordVPN stats

Supported Platforms # of Servers # of Countries VPN Protocols Encryption Max # of Devices Dedicated Servers? Support
macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Linux (Firefox, Chrome) 5,481 59 4 (Open, IPSec/IKEv2, Wireguard, SSTP) AES 256-bit 6 Yes 24/7 chat, email

Other NordVPN stats

Built-in Adblock Does it secure a Wi-Fi router? Auto-connect Virtual Servers Breaks Geoblocks? Torrenting? Works to Stream Video Overseas? Free version?
Yes. “CyberSec” Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No. 30-day money-back guarantee

Main NordVPN stats

Supported Platforms # of Servers # of Countries VPN Protocols Encryption Max # of Devices Dedicated Servers? Support
macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Linux (Firefox, Chrome) 5,481 59 4 (Open, IPSec/IKEv2, Wireguard, SSTP) AES 256-bit 6 Yes 24/7 chat, email

Other NordVPN stats

Built-in Adblock Does it secure a Wi-Fi router? Auto-connect Virtual Servers Breaks Geoblocks? Torrenting? Works to Stream Video Overseas? Free version?
Yes. “CyberSec” Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No. 30-day money-back guarantee

Stats

Supported Platforms # of Servers # of Countries VPN Protocols Encryption Max # of Devices Dedicated Servers? Support
macOS, Windows, Android, iOS, Linux (Firefox, Chrome) 5,481 59 4 (Open, IPSec/IKEv2, Wireguard, SSTP) AES 256-bit 6 Yes 24/7 chat, email
Built-in Adblock Does it secure a Wi-Fi router? Auto-connect Virtual Servers Breaks Geoblocks? Torrenting? Works to Stream Video Overseas? Free version?
Yes. “CyberSec” Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes No. 30-day money-back guarantee
Streaming ServicesStreaming Services

We know that for many this is the feature of a VPN that matters the most. We get it…who wants to miss the new season of Stranger Things on Netflix just because you happen to overseas when it’s released. Or maybe you’re in the US, but want to access BBC’s iPlayer to watch the latest murder mystery. We’re not advocating any kind of lawbreaking here. You’ll still need to pay for the service, even if you skirt the country restrictions.

Yes. NordVPN works!

We ran a test to see if we could access the BBC iPlayer from the US, using a server located in the UK.

Here’s what happened when I tried to watch Roadkill on the BBC iPlayer from a standard US server:

Denied Access to BBC iPlayerDenied Access to BBC iPlayer

(See the notice restricting access to those in the UK?)

Here’s what happened when I tried again while connected to a NordVPN server in the UK:

Access granted to BBC iPlayer with NordVPNAccess granted to BBC iPlayer with NordVPN

So, yes, you should feel secure in getting NordVPN for streaming shows overseas. Check out our guide to see how to use a VPN to watch US Netflix for a good example of how this works.

Streaming ServicesStreaming Services

We know that for many this is the feature of a VPN that matters the most. We get it…who wants to miss the new season of Stranger Things on Netflix just because you happen to overseas when it’s released. Or maybe you’re in the US, but want to access BBC’s iPlayer to watch the latest murder mystery. We’re not advocating any kind of lawbreaking here. You’ll still need to pay for the service, even if you skirt the country restrictions.

Yes. NordVPN works!

We ran a test to see if we could access the BBC iPlayer from the US, using a server located in the UK.

Here’s what happened when I tried to watch Roadkill on the BBC iPlayer from a standard US server:

Denied Access to BBC iPlayerDenied Access to BBC iPlayer

(See the notice restricting access to those in the UK?)

Here’s what happened when I tried again while connected to a NordVPN server in the UK:

Access granted to BBC iPlayer with NordVPNAccess granted to BBC iPlayer with NordVPN

So, yes, you should feel secure in getting NordVPN for streaming shows overseas. Check out our guide to see how to use a VPN to watch US Netflix for a good example of how this works.

Can it unblock streaming services? (Netflix, Disney +, etc)

How to Watch US Netflix Using a VPN Right Away How to Watch US Netflix Using a VPN Right AwayWatch your favorite Netflix show right now!
How to Watch US Netflix Using a VPN Right Away
Ookla Speed of NordVPNOokla Speed of NordVPN

NordVPN claims that it is officially the fastest VPN available on the market. And you know what…they’re absolutely correct. Not only has that been independently verified, but we can say that based on our tests running NordVPN servers in both the US and UK that NordVPN is very fast. While every VPN will inevitably slow down your internet speed, NordVPN hardly made a dent in ours.

Here are the results of our own Howchoo tests with NordVPN, from the US mainland using Ookla Speed Test.

Measure Without a VPN NordVPN (US server) NordVPN (UK server)
ping 15ms 30ms 115ms
download speed 88.21 Mbps 62.65 Mbps 61.62 Mbps
upload speed 10.85 Mbps 10.75 Mbps 8.98 Mbps

You can see that using NordVPN only slightly increased our ping and lowered our download speed, but not by margins that would be very noticeable.

Important for those looking to VPN into a global server: While our ping obviously went up, it’s still well within the acceptable range for performing most tasks on a global server, including streaming video. There’s almost no difference in download and upload speed when using NordVPN on the UK server.

Ookla Speed of NordVPNOokla Speed of NordVPN

NordVPN claims that it is officially the fastest VPN available on the market. And you know what…they’re absolutely correct. Not only has that been independently verified, but we can say that based on our tests running NordVPN servers in both the US and UK that NordVPN is very fast. While every VPN will inevitably slow down your internet speed, NordVPN hardly made a dent in ours.

Here are the results of our own Howchoo tests with NordVPN, from the US mainland using Ookla Speed Test.

Measure Without a VPN NordVPN (US server) NordVPN (UK server)
ping 15ms 30ms 115ms
download speed 88.21 Mbps 62.65 Mbps 61.62 Mbps
upload speed 10.85 Mbps 10.75 Mbps 8.98 Mbps

You can see that using NordVPN only slightly increased our ping and lowered our download speed, but not by margins that would be very noticeable.

Important for those looking to VPN into a global server: While our ping obviously went up, it’s still well within the acceptable range for performing most tasks on a global server, including streaming video. There’s almost no difference in download and upload speed when using NordVPN on the UK server.

Speed

Measure Without a VPN NordVPN (US server) NordVPN (UK server)
ping 15ms 30ms 115ms
download speed 88.21 Mbps 62.65 Mbps 61.62 Mbps
upload speed 10.85 Mbps 10.75 Mbps 8.98 Mbps
Used here
NordVPNCheck Price
VPN Protocols NordVPNVPN Protocols NordVPN

NordVPN offers all of the standard VPN protocols that you would expect from a VPN provider, including a form of the new Wireguard protocol called NordLynx.

What is a VPN protocol?

In short, VPN protocols are the specific kinds of processes that form your VPN tunnel. Thus, they each have their own unique security and privacy features, as well as their own unique vulnerabilities. It’s important to choose the correct VPN protocol for your specific needs. NordVPN has built-in features to help you choose this.

Types of protocols offered by NordVPN

OpenVPN

The recommended general-use protocol, OpenVPN, is included in NordVPN. What’s unique, however, is that with NordVPN, you can choose between either the TCP or UDP internet protocols depending on what your VPN needs are. OpenVPN is an open-source protocol, making it very secure.

IPSec/IKEv2

For those looking for the most stable VPN protocol, NordVPN offers the IKEv2 protocol, though notes that Windows users will likely have the easiest time running this particular VPN protocol.

Wireguard (NordLynx)

The newest and fastest VPN protocol available, Wireguard, is available from NordVPN as “NordLynx.” This open-source protocol is lightning fast, due to its minimal coding. This is the preferred protocol for those wanting speed, like gamers or those wanting to stream video.

SSTP

SSTP, or Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol, is a protocol owned and operated by Microsoft, which may make some wary of the privacy it offers. Still, it’s a secure and good protocol for average use.

VPN Protocols NordVPNVPN Protocols NordVPN

NordVPN offers all of the standard VPN protocols that you would expect from a VPN provider, including a form of the new Wireguard protocol called NordLynx.

What is a VPN protocol?

In short, VPN protocols are the specific kinds of processes that form your VPN tunnel. Thus, they each have their own unique security and privacy features, as well as their own unique vulnerabilities. It’s important to choose the correct VPN protocol for your specific needs. NordVPN has built-in features to help you choose this.

Types of protocols offered by NordVPN

OpenVPN

The recommended general-use protocol, OpenVPN, is included in NordVPN. What’s unique, however, is that with NordVPN, you can choose between either the TCP or UDP internet protocols depending on what your VPN needs are. OpenVPN is an open-source protocol, making it very secure.

IPSec/IKEv2

For those looking for the most stable VPN protocol, NordVPN offers the IKEv2 protocol, though notes that Windows users will likely have the easiest time running this particular VPN protocol.

Wireguard (NordLynx)

The newest and fastest VPN protocol available, Wireguard, is available from NordVPN as “NordLynx.” This open-source protocol is lightning fast, due to its minimal coding. This is the preferred protocol for those wanting speed, like gamers or those wanting to stream video.

SSTP

SSTP, or Secure Socket Tunneling Protocol, is a protocol owned and operated by Microsoft, which may make some wary of the privacy it offers. Still, it’s a secure and good protocol for average use.

VPN Protocols

VPN ServersVPN Servers
NordVPN

As of the publication of this review (Nov. 2020), NordVPN has 5,481 Servers in 59 countries worldwide. That’s more than NordVPN’s closest competitor, ExpressVPN, and they offer a variety of different server types depending on what your needs are.

Types of Servers

NordVPN offers 4 main server types in most major countries to which you can connect.

Regular

The regular (standard) VPN server replaces your IP address and encrypts your internet traffic.

P2P

Optimized for file sharing, these NordVPN servers are built for speed.

Obfuscated

Use an obfuscated VPN server to prevent being blocked from accessing information in countries with restrictions, e.g. China or Iran.

Double VPN

This is ultra-security! Your internet traffic goes through an additional VPN server, which doubles its encryption.

Dedicated IPs

This is a unique feature for NordVPN users who connect to a server in the US or some major European countries. Essentially, you are given a dedicated IP address for your use while connected, which prevents you from appearing as a robot on the internet and in Captcha services.

NordVPN explains more about servers

VPN ServersVPN Servers
NordVPN

As of the publication of this review (Nov. 2020), NordVPN has 5,481 Servers in 59 countries worldwide. That’s more than NordVPN’s closest competitor, ExpressVPN, and they offer a variety of different server types depending on what your needs are.

Types of Servers

NordVPN offers 4 main server types in most major countries to which you can connect.

Regular

The regular (standard) VPN server replaces your IP address and encrypts your internet traffic.

P2P

Optimized for file sharing, these NordVPN servers are built for speed.

Obfuscated

Use an obfuscated VPN server to prevent being blocked from accessing information in countries with restrictions, e.g. China or Iran.

Double VPN

This is ultra-security! Your internet traffic goes through an additional VPN server, which doubles its encryption.

Dedicated IPs

This is a unique feature for NordVPN users who connect to a server in the US or some major European countries. Essentially, you are given a dedicated IP address for your use while connected, which prevents you from appearing as a robot on the internet and in Captcha services.

NordVPN explains more about servers

Servers

VPN SecurityVPN Security

Like any VPN, NordVPN creates a funnel that encrypts your data and protects it from hackers or anyone looking to obtain your data. The encrypted data will look like an unreadable scramble to anyone trying to see your data, even your ISP.

AES 256-bit encryption

NordVPN uses AES 256-bit encryption. This is the current gold standard for encryption, approved for security by even the NSA. It ensures that unless someone was to build an impossible supercomputer, it’s impossible to decipher the data.

Independently verified

A company trying to sell you its product can make big claims about the security of their product, of course. With NordVPN, that security has been tested independently a number of times by security firms like PricewaterhouseCoopers AG Switzerland and many others.

Website check for security

NordVPN takes security seriously enough to include a built-in way to check if your VPN is working right on their home page.

VPN SecurityVPN Security

Like any VPN, NordVPN creates a funnel that encrypts your data and protects it from hackers or anyone looking to obtain your data. The encrypted data will look like an unreadable scramble to anyone trying to see your data, even your ISP.

AES 256-bit encryption

NordVPN uses AES 256-bit encryption. This is the current gold standard for encryption, approved for security by even the NSA. It ensures that unless someone was to build an impossible supercomputer, it’s impossible to decipher the data.

Independently verified

A company trying to sell you its product can make big claims about the security of their product, of course. With NordVPN, that security has been tested independently a number of times by security firms like PricewaterhouseCoopers AG Switzerland and many others.

Website check for security

NordVPN takes security seriously enough to include a built-in way to check if your VPN is working right on their home page.

Security

VPN PrivacyVPN Privacy
Emsisoft

When using a VPN, the only entity able to see your internet traffic is the VPN provider, so it’s important to understand what they’re tracking (if anything).

Using any VPN like Nord VPN increases your internet privacy by blocking access to your internet traffic to anyone monitoring it, including your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Your ISP monitors your traffic and behavior, and will sometimes even give that data over to advertisers and government agencies.

When using a VPN, the only entity able to see your internet traffic is the VPN provider, so it’s important to understand what they’re tracking (if anything).

NordVPN’s no-log policy

NordVPN does not log or save information about anything you do while using the internet, including browsing history to download history. This means that even if NordVPN is hacked, there will be nothing there to steal. And even if compelled to give over data by a government agency, they have no data to give.

Cryptocurrency payment

Inevitably the only record that NordVPN will have of you is your payment record when you purchase NordPVN and your email address. You can skirt even this by employing your ninja skills and paying with a cryptocurrency!

VPN PrivacyVPN Privacy
Emsisoft

When using a VPN, the only entity able to see your internet traffic is the VPN provider, so it’s important to understand what they’re tracking (if anything).

Using any VPN like Nord VPN increases your internet privacy by blocking access to your internet traffic to anyone monitoring it, including your ISP (Internet Service Provider). Your ISP monitors your traffic and behavior, and will sometimes even give that data over to advertisers and government agencies.

When using a VPN, the only entity able to see your internet traffic is the VPN provider, so it’s important to understand what they’re tracking (if anything).

NordVPN’s no-log policy

NordVPN does not log or save information about anything you do while using the internet, including browsing history to download history. This means that even if NordVPN is hacked, there will be nothing there to steal. And even if compelled to give over data by a government agency, they have no data to give.

Cryptocurrency payment

Inevitably the only record that NordVPN will have of you is your payment record when you purchase NordPVN and your email address. You can skirt even this by employing your ninja skills and paying with a cryptocurrency!

Privacy

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Yes.

While we did just sing the praises of NordVPN’s security and privacy features, NordVPN was hacked in March 2018. NordVPN claims that the hack affected a single server in Finland. The hacker was able to access and monitor internet traffic for users on the server for a brief period of time.

NordVPN claims that it has found the source of the problem and claims that the hack is unrepeatable. They’ve also moved to a no-log policy, which should prevent your traffic from being monitored even if they were hacked again in the future.

Here is NordVPN’s official response.

Yes.

While we did just sing the praises of NordVPN’s security and privacy features, NordVPN was hacked in March 2018. NordVPN claims that the hack affected a single server in Finland. The hacker was able to access and monitor internet traffic for users on the server for a brief period of time.

NordVPN claims that it has found the source of the problem and claims that the hack is unrepeatable. They’ve also moved to a no-log policy, which should prevent your traffic from being monitored even if they were hacked again in the future.

Here is NordVPN’s official response.

Has NordVPN been hacked?

Five stars for the NordVPN interface and applications!

Maybe the best thing about NordVPN is how intuitive and easy to use it is. As the GIF above demonstrates, you just click Connect and you’re secure.

Quick Connect

When you just want to connect to the best available VPN to secure your internet data, then the quick connect feature is what you’ll use. It’s simple and can be customized further in the NordVPN settings—if you’re looking to use a specific kind of protocol for example. On mobile, iOS has new compatibility features for VPNs, allowing you to easily turn on and turn off your VPN. And using the VPN on an Android was also very easy.

Auto-connect

You can set up NordVPN to auto-connect anytime you log into your computer or your mobile device. It will perform a quick connect and follow any protocols you may have customized.

Global VPN connection

When choosing a VPN server in another country with NordVPN, you can choose from the various types of VPN protocols offered by simply right-clicking the country in your application.

Five stars for the NordVPN interface and applications!

Maybe the best thing about NordVPN is how intuitive and easy to use it is. As the GIF above demonstrates, you just click Connect and you’re secure.

Quick Connect

When you just want to connect to the best available VPN to secure your internet data, then the quick connect feature is what you’ll use. It’s simple and can be customized further in the NordVPN settings—if you’re looking to use a specific kind of protocol for example. On mobile, iOS has new compatibility features for VPNs, allowing you to easily turn on and turn off your VPN. And using the VPN on an Android was also very easy.

Auto-connect

You can set up NordVPN to auto-connect anytime you log into your computer or your mobile device. It will perform a quick connect and follow any protocols you may have customized.

Global VPN connection

When choosing a VPN server in another country with NordVPN, you can choose from the various types of VPN protocols offered by simply right-clicking the country in your application.

Ease of Use

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VPN PlatformsVPN Platforms

NordVPN supports most major operating systems and includes two browser extensions.

Desktop Operating Systems Mobile OS Browser Extensions
macOS, Windows, Linux iOS, Android Chrome, Firefox

Great on desktop and in browser

Howchoo has the chance to test our NordVPN on macOS, in Firefox, and on the iPhone iOS. In both macOS and the Firefox browser, we found NordVPN to be easy-to-use, start, and caused little slowdown in our daily use.

Problem with iOS VPN

On the iPhone, however, we did have to constantly bypass Google’s Captcha service, as we were not given a dedicated IP address to use on the mobile device.

VPN PlatformsVPN Platforms

NordVPN supports most major operating systems and includes two browser extensions.

Desktop Operating Systems Mobile OS Browser Extensions
macOS, Windows, Linux iOS, Android Chrome, Firefox

Great on desktop and in browser

Howchoo has the chance to test our NordVPN on macOS, in Firefox, and on the iPhone iOS. In both macOS and the Firefox browser, we found NordVPN to be easy-to-use, start, and caused little slowdown in our daily use.

Problem with iOS VPN

On the iPhone, however, we did have to constantly bypass Google’s Captcha service, as we were not given a dedicated IP address to use on the mobile device.

Supported platforms and browsers

Desktop Operating Systems Mobile OS Browser Extensions
macOS, Windows, Linux iOS, Android Chrome, Firefox
BitTorrentBitTorrent

While we will not advocate for peer-to-peer file sharing through the BitTorrent network, there are many who have tested this successfully. So it’s definitely possible.

NordVPN, themselves, have written guides on setting up BitTorrent with NordVPN.

BitTorrentBitTorrent

While we will not advocate for peer-to-peer file sharing through the BitTorrent network, there are many who have tested this successfully. So it’s definitely possible.

NordVPN, themselves, have written guides on setting up BitTorrent with NordVPN.

Torrenting

NordVPN Kill SwitchNordVPN Kill Switch

The “kill switch” feature from NordVPN adds an additional layer of security to using their VPN. This comes standard with any NordVPN package.

What is the “kill switch”?

Well, let’s say your browsing the internet using NordVPN, and your connection accidentally gets dropped. Normally, there would be a period where you would be using the internet unprotected.

With “kill switch” active, however, NordVPN will automatically stop your connection to the internet on any device with which you use it. It will remain blocked for your security until you either restore your connection to the VPN or turn off the “kill switch.”

NordVPN Kill SwitchNordVPN Kill Switch

The “kill switch” feature from NordVPN adds an additional layer of security to using their VPN. This comes standard with any NordVPN package.

What is the “kill switch”?

Well, let’s say your browsing the internet using NordVPN, and your connection accidentally gets dropped. Normally, there would be a period where you would be using the internet unprotected.

With “kill switch” active, however, NordVPN will automatically stop your connection to the internet on any device with which you use it. It will remain blocked for your security until you either restore your connection to the VPN or turn off the “kill switch.”

Kill Switch

NordVPN GeoBlockNordVPN GeoBlock

NordVPN can be used to access data in countries that have restricted it, in the same way that I used it to get access to the BBC iPlayer.

For example, if you live in the EU and are frustrated by the GDPR, you can use NordVPN to gain access to the US news sources that you typically would be blocked from accessing.

Can NordVPN bypass geoblocking in China?

Yes. If you are living or visiting China, you can use NordVPN to access the blocked part of the internet like Facebook and Twitter. NordVPN explains the process, as well as the legality of doing this.

NordVPN GeoBlockNordVPN GeoBlock

NordVPN can be used to access data in countries that have restricted it, in the same way that I used it to get access to the BBC iPlayer.

For example, if you live in the EU and are frustrated by the GDPR, you can use NordVPN to gain access to the US news sources that you typically would be blocked from accessing.

Can NordVPN bypass geoblocking in China?

Yes. If you are living or visiting China, you can use NordVPN to access the blocked part of the internet like Facebook and Twitter. NordVPN explains the process, as well as the legality of doing this.

Geoblocking

NordVPN Support PageNordVPN Support Page

Huge props to NordVPN for building a wide knowledge base of content that can help its users solve just about any issue that may arise. In our experience, if we needed anything, chances were that NordVPN had an excellent article ready-made for us to use to solve an issue.

They also offer 24/7 chat support that provides friendly answers to simple questions, and you can email them with any issue that can’t be dealt with via chat.

No phone support

Alas, NordVPN has gone the way of many companies and offer only chat-based support options or email. We get it. Still, there are some who prefer the immediacy of chatting with someone on the phone regarding an issue. There’s no findable support phone number for NordVPN.

NordVPN Support PageNordVPN Support Page

Huge props to NordVPN for building a wide knowledge base of content that can help its users solve just about any issue that may arise. In our experience, if we needed anything, chances were that NordVPN had an excellent article ready-made for us to use to solve an issue.

They also offer 24/7 chat support that provides friendly answers to simple questions, and you can email them with any issue that can’t be dealt with via chat.

No phone support

Alas, NordVPN has gone the way of many companies and offer only chat-based support options or email. We get it. Still, there are some who prefer the immediacy of chatting with someone on the phone regarding an issue. There’s no findable support phone number for NordVPN.

Support

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Onion Over GraphicOnion Over Graphic
NordVPN

NordVPN‘s Onion over VPN feature allows a user to route their traffic through the Onion network, which previously was only available when using the Tor browser. Just choose an Onion over VPN server when connecting with NordVPN, and your traffic will be routed through the Onion network!

Here’s a great video from NordVPN explaining more about this.

Onion Over GraphicOnion Over Graphic
NordVPN

NordVPN‘s Onion over VPN feature allows a user to route their traffic through the Onion network, which previously was only available when using the Tor browser. Just choose an Onion over VPN server when connecting with NordVPN, and your traffic will be routed through the Onion network!

Here’s a great video from NordVPN explaining more about this.

Onion over VPN

adblockeradblocker
NordVPN

We absolutely love that NordVPN comes with a malware and adware blocker built-in to its service. NordVPN calls theirs “CyberSec.” You can turn this feature on or off in the desktop app settings or browser extension settings.

Essentially, CyberSec blocks sites that host malware or phishing scams, which makes you safe from online threats. It also removes big, bright ads, which speeds up your browsing.

adblockeradblocker
NordVPN

We absolutely love that NordVPN comes with a malware and adware blocker built-in to its service. NordVPN calls theirs “CyberSec.” You can turn this feature on or off in the desktop app settings or browser extension settings.

Essentially, CyberSec blocks sites that host malware or phishing scams, which makes you safe from online threats. It also removes big, bright ads, which speeds up your browsing.

CyberSec (Adware blocker)

Easily the best VPN for speed and security currently available.

And best of all, the price is fairly reasonable when you consider everything that’s included. (It’s cheaper than ExpressVPN, for example, and offers a bit more.)

We like that our team can work on major projects remotely with the added security of having NordVPN protecting our content and data. And because we’re all working from home, we also enjoy not having our ISP keeping a close eye on how much we download and upload throughout the day. No ISP is going to intentionally slow down Howchoo’s speed!

The bottom line—you should be concerned about your internet security, both on your desktop and mobile device. And NordVPN is a great VPN for the task!

Easily the best VPN for speed and security currently available.

And best of all, the price is fairly reasonable when you consider everything that’s included. (It’s cheaper than ExpressVPN, for example, and offers a bit more.)

We like that our team can work on major projects remotely with the added security of having NordVPN protecting our content and data. And because we’re all working from home, we also enjoy not having our ISP keeping a close eye on how much we download and upload throughout the day. No ISP is going to intentionally slow down Howchoo’s speed!

The bottom line—you should be concerned about your internet security, both on your desktop and mobile device. And NordVPN is a great VPN for the task!

Bottom line

NordPass LogoNordPass Logo

While we do like 1Password for a paid password manager, NordPass might be the best truly free password manager currently available. And, at least according to the folks at NordPass, it’s free forever.

NordPass has everything you’d expect from a password manager, like great security, password sharing, device syncing, credential saving, etc. The only caveat is that, with the free version, you’re limited to using only 1 device at a time with NordPass and you don’t get all of the other goodies they offer with their paid version.

NordPass LogoNordPass Logo

While we do like 1Password for a paid password manager, NordPass might be the best truly free password manager currently available. And, at least according to the folks at NordPass, it’s free forever.

NordPass has everything you’d expect from a password manager, like great security, password sharing, device syncing, credential saving, etc. The only caveat is that, with the free version, you’re limited to using only 1 device at a time with NordPass and you don’t get all of the other goodies they offer with their paid version.

Bonus: NordPass

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Michael's profile pictureMichael
Joined in 2020
A maker at heart, Michael loves all things DIY. Michael is an award-winning poet, writer, and editor. He has published two books of poetry and has writing in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, The New Yorker, and many others. He has taught writing at colleges across the country, and managed many leading literary magazines to national prominence. Now, he’s excited to devote his energies full time to Howchoo. He currently resides in the Tampa-area with his wife and puppy.
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1Password Review: Our New Favorite Password Manager

Intuitive. Secure. A great option for families and small businesses.
Michael Michael (115)
0
Updated: November 19th, 2020
4.25 – Our Rating

1Password is a password manager created by AgileBits, Inc. More than just a password manager, however, 1Password aims to be an all-in-one digital vault for things like passports, documents, email accounts, credit cards, and more.

What is a password manager?

You should only have to remember 1 password, hence the name!

As we move more of our lives into the digital sphere, the number of passwords required for various services and software applications has increased drastically. A password manager, like 1Password, maintains a secure vault of the many account logins and passwords that we use on the internet. Password managers often have built-in encryption features that help keep your information secure. They also save you the headache of having to remember the passwords you use for all of your accounts. You should only have to remember 1 password, hence the name!

Do I need a password manager?

Everyone should use a password manager.

Most people will end up using the same password for every account they have on the internet. And most of those passwords include one or two dictionary words, which makes the passwords particularly vulnerable to dictionary attacks. Both of these scenarios are highly insecure for a couple of reasons:

  1. Using the same password for every account means that if someone gets the password for one of your accounts, they can easily access every account you have on the internet.
  2. Not using a random, securely generated password means that hackers can use a variety of methods to eventually get your password.

So, unless you’re willing to write down every long, random password and retype it each time you visit a website, then yes you need a password manager like 1Password.

Are they all the same?

We’re going to highlight what differentiates 1Password from other password managers like LastPass, NordPass, or Dashlane.

Not at all. That’s exactly why we’re writing this guide. We’re going to highlight what differentiates 1Password from other password managers like LastPass, NordPass, or Dashlane. There are differences in things like:

  • Price
  • Compatibility with operating systems and apps
  • Security
  • Storage
  • And a lot more.

We’ll also highlight the features that help 1Password stand out from the competition—so you can make an informed choice, (It’s a very important one!) And check our side-by-side comparison of 1Password vs NordPass to see how it compares.

How do we know so much about 1Password?

Howchoo on 1PasswordHowchoo on 1Password

Howchoo switched to 1Password this year. Our small team uses 1Password for both our business and personal needs. We’re excited to tell you what we love and what we don’t about 1Password!

1Password1Password ×1

Howchoo is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you.

Here are the most relevant specs for 1Password.

Feature/Specification
Complete data encryption Yes
Secret Key encryption Yes
Encryption type AES 256-bit
Two-factor authentication Yes
Random password generator Yes
Multiple Accounts Yes
Country restrictions No
Support 24/7 (no phone support)
Biometric login Yes (fingerprint, face, eyes)
Operating systems macOS, iOS, Windows, Linux, Android, Command Line
Browsers Safari, Firefox, Chrome, Edge, Opera, Brave
Password retrieval Password hint, Emergency Kit
iCloud sync Yes
Dropbox sync Yes
Data Storage 1 GB
1Password Background1Password Background
1Password

1Password is the best password manager for businesses, teams and families currently available. While the lack of a free version may deter some individual users, the moment you begin to sync this password manager with other people, browsers, and applications, 1Password starts to outshine the competition.

Intuitive experience across the various 1Password apps and plugins

And if security is paramount to your decision (which it probably should be), then 1Password gets the nod for its Brute-force protection with PBKDF2 and its focus on protecting their user’s privacy.

Pros

  • Intuitive experience across the various 1Password apps and plugins
  • Security features that other password managers don’t have
  • Ability to create private, family, and public vaults
  • Travel Mode to keep your information from border agents
  • Easy to create customizable vaults to share across team/family members

Cons

  • No free version for individual accounts; though, they do offer a free 30-day trial of 1Password
  • Found some syncing issues between the browser plugin and desktop app
  • No phone support
  • 1Password X Chrome extension can be slow at times

Best for?

While 1Password is a great manager for everyone, we do recognize that many individual users may choose to go with a free version of LastPass or Dashlane, which may serve their purposes just fine. You can’t, however, use the free versions of the other managers once you add even one other member to a vault. That’s where 1Password becomes the best option and the most cost-effective.

Price

It’s important to note that many of those free password manager versions will quickly become unusable once you reach a certain number of passwords or want to add someone to your vault. (They have to make money too.)

With 1Password, there are no hidden price-points that you’ll reach. Just the one upfront price that’s lower than the price of the competitors. Note that 1Password does offer a free 30-day free trial on their plans.

Individual Family Teams Business
$2.99/mo. $4.99/mo. $3.99/mo. $7.99/mo.
1 user 5 family members 5 limited guest accounts 20 users
MasterPassword 1PasswordMasterPassword 1Password

We made a great guide that walks you through the basics of using 1Password, so be sure to check that out. We’ll summarize it for you here.

You’ll either sign up for a 1Password account yourself or be invited by someone using a family, team, or business plan. Once you confirm your account via email, then you’ll be ready to set up 1Password.

Master Password

The first thing 1Password asks you to create is your Master Password. You’ll want to create a long, random, and unique password that will give you access to every other password you use on the internet. So it might be the most important password you ever create. It definitely should not be a password you use for anything else. We recommend using 1Password’s random password generator for this. Print it out. Memorize it. And keep it safe!

1Password emergency kit1Password emergency kit

Download the apps and install the plugins

Download the 1Password app and install the plugins on all your devices (phones, laptops, etc.) and browsers. Remember you’ll be using 1Password to secure just about everything from here on out.

1Password in App Store1Password in App Store

Start using

Now, as long as you are signed into 1Password, 1Password will autofill passwords you save to it and can even autofill other information like your contact information and credit cards. Each time you need to first use 1Password, you’ll need to unlock it first. (You can even unlock 1Password with an Apple watch.

You’ll just need to add all that information to the 1Password app. You can change over all your old passwords to more secure versions using 1Password’s random password generator. And soon, you’ll have all your passwords stored in one place, secured by 1Password.

Here’s a nice video from 1Password that walks you through the process of getting setup:

Create vaults

Add new vault in 1passwordAdd new vault in 1password

Once you get the feel for 1Password, you’ll likely want to create vaults for your various passwords. A vault is simply the storage container into which certain passwords get placed. You can set permissions on each vault if you’re sharing passwords with family members or colleagues.

Different looks of 1PasswordDifferent looks of 1Password
1Password

We’re mentioning the interface of 1Password because we feel that this is one of its biggest strengths and one of the main things that will differentiate 1Password from other password managers. Across the various platforms and plugins, 1Password prioritizes simplicity over complexity—making it a great manager for both experienced internet carousers and novices.

The image above shows the basic look of each of the different types of apps.

The apps from left to right:

  1. macOS (desktop)
  2. Android (phone)
  3. Browser Plugin (Firefox)
  4. iOS (phone)
  5. Windows (desktop)

Here’s a short GIF of what it’s like to navigate inside of the Windows 1Password application:

Individual 1Password AccountIndividual 1Password Account
1Password

Think of the individual account as the standard 1Password account. With this account, you get all the standard features and protections that 1Password offers but simply cannot add other users to the account.

Some of the 1Password standard features include:

  • Unlimited passwords
  • A secure “master” password for all of your passwords
  • Random password generator
  • Password syncing across devices and platforms
  • 1 GB of storage
  • 24/7 support
  • Access to Travel Mode (explained here)
  • Two-factor authentication (also somewhat unique among password managers)
  • Apps to use on an unlimited number of devices.
  • Digital Wallet (explained here)
  • Watchtower to check for potential breaches (explained here)

The price for an individual account is $2.99/month.

Family Account 1PasswordFamily Account 1Password
1Password

This is where 1Password excels and rises above many of the other password managers. The features of a family account are pretty extensive and very customizable. With a family account, you can add up to 5 members (and more for an additional fee).

Family sharing

With a 1Password family account, each member of your household will receive a standard account (as described in the previous section). Passwords can be shared across the members of your family in shared vaults, which can be customized. So, for example, maybe you only want to share your Netflix password with your spouse and not your kids. You can create a “Mom & Dad” 1Password vault that holds the passwords you only want to be shared across the two of you.

Teaching your family early the importance of keeping their data and accounts safe from theft is vital.

Personal Vault

You can still, of course, maintain a personal vault of passwords that can only be accessed by you and no one else.

Teaching good internet security habits

Teaching your family early the importance of keeping their data and accounts safe from theft is vital. With a 1Password family account, you can help to establish the good habits that will protect everyone in your family.

The price for a family account is $4.99/month. If you need to add extra family members, it will cost $0.99 per additional member.

Business 1PasswordBusiness 1Password
1Password

Howchoo switched over to 1Password this year, and we love it. In fact, we think this is where 1Password’s best value rests. One of the real plusses to a business account is that every individual in the business given 1Password also gets a free family account that they can use for their personal items. With a business account, you can have up to 20 users.

As more and more work goes remote, 1Password makes it easy to share passwords words across teams, departments, and accounts.

Business vaults

What’s great is that vaults can be created in 1Password for each individual department with a business, such as a “marketing vault” for marketing-related passwords and a “sales vault” for sales-related passwords. You can then oversee the activity in each of the vaults to see how 1Password is being used by your company as well as your company’s overall security level.

Remote work

As more and more work goes remote, 1Password makes it easy to share passwords words across teams, departments, and accounts. It allows a business or company to maintain a level of security, even when they have employees scattered across the country—globe.

Here’s a nice, short video of how you can use shared vaults as a business:

Aditional Business features

From 1Password’s Advanced Protection Dashboard, you have the ability to do things like ensuring that your users are creating strong enough passwords, view fraudulent sign-in attempts, review any data breaches and pinpoint the source, as well as other things to help keep your company secure.

Advanced Protection Dashboard 1PasswordAdvanced Protection Dashboard 1Password

And 1Password is used by many top companies for whom security is paramount, like IBM, Slack, Dropbox, and Gitlab.

The price for a business account is $7.99/month.

1Password Security Window1Password Security Window

1Password has everything you’d expect and want in terms of security, which most password managers will also have.

Even 1Password does not have access to your information.

Besides the standard two-factor authentication, which adds an extra layer of security to your passwords stored within 1Password, there are a variety of security features, some of which set 1Password apart from other password managers.

Total encryption

Even 1Password does not have access to your information, which protects you in case there is a data breach over at 1Password. Basically, should 1Password ever get hacked, your information will not be available to the hacker.

This starts with end-to-end AES 256-bit encryption across the pathways your data takes from your computer to the 1Password servers. Best of all, it doesn’t even need to send your information over the internet in order to authenticate your credentials.

Other security features

  • Secure input fields protect you from keystroke loggers.
  • Watchtower feature allows you to monitor any potential security issues or breaches.
  • Always requires human input to protect you from phishers and digital attacks.

If you’re really interested in 1Password’s security (we mean really), then 1Password released a comprehensive 80-page document detailing all the security features.

Syncing 1PasswordSyncing 1Password
1Password

1Password allows you to sync your data across all of your devices. So, for example, if you save a password on your laptop, you’ll have that password saved when you go to use it from your phone. Just make sure you have the 1Password app installed on each device you own and use.

We found the process to be fairly intuitive and easy to set up. The average internet user should have no trouble syncing 1Password across devices and browsers.

Supported operating systems

  • macOS
  • Windows
  • Linux
  • ChromeOS
  • iOS
  • Android
  • Command Line

Supported browsers

  • Google Chrome
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Safari
  • Brave Browser
  • Microsoft Edge

Some slight bugginess

The syncing process with 1Password is relatively painless and functional, though we did run into some issues with the browser extensions for Firefox. Sometimes, 1Password will not recognize that you already have the browser extension installed. It will make you go to the webpage with the Firefox extension download for 1Password to recognize that you already had it installed. It was a mild annoyance that hopefully will get a fix soon.

Windows and Mac Applications 1PasswordWindows and Mac Applications 1Password
1Password

The quality and intuitiveness across each of 1Password‘s applications (macOS, iOS, Firefox, etc.) do vary slightly.

Phone applications (iOS, Android)

(Fair)

We found the 1Password phone applications to be less user-friendly overall than the desktop counterpart. To properly set up the applications on your phone, you would need to spend extra time favoriting all of your most-used passwords for easy access.

Once you do this, then the phone applications begin to make a bit more sense. Still, we found that it’s not as intuitive as we would like it to be. Some information like tags feels clunky at first use.

Desktop applications (macOS, Windows, etc.)

(Great)

It’s a much more pleasing experience to navigate the 1Password desktop applications compared to the phone applications.

The 1Password applications installed on the desktop, on the other hand, feel much more user-friendly. When you first open 1Password on your computer, you are shown the list of vaults and passwords you have saved. This makes the most sense for the average user of the service.

The left toolbar includes all of your other stored information like credit cards, driver’s license, passport, etc.

It’s also just a much more pleasing experience to navigate the 1Password desktop applications compared to the phone applications.

Browser Plugins/Extensions (Safari, Firefox, Chrome, etc.)

(Good)

Most of the choppiness inherent in the browser extensions has to do with the security features 1Password built into them. For example, it can be mildly annoying to have to sign back into the extension each time your computer goes to sleep or you open your browser. But when you factor in the security it provides, then it’s worth it.

SharedVault1PassworddSharedVault1Passwordd

As a team, we’ve shared quite a few passwords across the company with 1Password. The process is easy and we’ve had no issues with our team being able to access and make use of the passwords in 1Password.

Shared Vault 1PasswordShared Vault 1Password

When you want to share a password with 1Password, you’re essentially going to add the password to Shared Vault. There are two ways to share a password with 1Password:

  1. When you initially save the password in 1Password, you can select which vault to save it in. Choose a Shared Vault to share it with everyone who has access to that vault.
  2. If it’s a password you’ve already saved to a Personal Vault, then you’ll simply move it to your Shared Vault.

You can easily move things back and forth between vaults and even create numerous vaults for different sharing preferences. This becomes particularly useful when sharing in a Family Plan.

1Password

This 1Password feature is very cool and truly unique among password managers. Essentially, travel mode allows you to completely and temporarily remove entire vaults in 1Password while you’re traveling.

Why does this matter?

Well, let’s say your crossing an international border during travel. The border agent asks you for your bag, which contains your laptop. They take your bag into some dark back-room where they open up your laptop and start perusing your personal accounts.

If you have 1Password’s travel mode active, however, then there’s essentially no data there for them to see. Your information does not exist on the computer.

Can I turn it back on?

Yes. When you arrive at your destination, you’ll turn off travel mode in 1Password and your data will be restored!

1Password Support Page1Password Support Page

1Password has 24/7 support for users.

It’s important that a password manager like 1Password have 24/7 support for a couple of reasons:

1. Access account at night

Let’s say you really need to access an account at midnight, but there’s an issue using 1Password. You can’t be expected to wait until business hours to get it sorted out.

2. Having trouble while you’re not at home

If you’re at a store and 1Password is giving you trouble with your credit cards, then you’ll want to be able to fix that situation right away.

Extras

1Password has a nice store of helpful articles and Youtube videos that aim to simplify the process of using their software.

No phone support

It’s important to note that if you’re looking to speak to a person on the phone about an issue, there is no findable phone number to contact 1Password. They’re going the way of many companies it seems and moving all support functionality to:

  • Online forums
  • Email forms
  • And Twitter

They do note that they respond to the posts in the online forums very quickly, but we have not had the chance to test those claims.

Files for 1Password StorageFiles for 1Password Storage
1Password

1Password provides users with 1 GB of storage (5 GB for Business accounts) that can be used for anything you want to keep safe. Think of this storage as a kind of digital safety deposit box for any kind of file you want to save and keep safe.

Things to save in 1Password storage

  • Copy of a will
  • Passports
  • Business documents that need extra security
  • Private images
  • Tax documents
  • Anything else you want to keep safe and private

You also have the ability to share the files you place into 1Password by placing them into a shared vault.

1Password Identity1Password Identity

You have the ability to create multiple Identities within 1Password, which you can switch to for different uses.

What is an identity?

An identity in 1Password is essentially a digital profile that you can use to do things like:

  • Auto-fill forms in browsers (name, address, phone, etc.)
  • Switch between multiple 1Password accounts (Business/Personal) and identities with different stored passwords

Are they secure and private?

1Passwords has taken extra steps to make sure that your identity information can not be used by keystroke hackers or auto-fill bots. They also never share your information with any entity for any reason.

Attention Mac users

You can simply click and drag a profile from your Apple contacts to create an identity.

1Password Digital Wallet1Password Digital Wallet
1Password

A nice additional feature of 1Password for Mac users is a digital wallet that stores your credit card information securely and can automatically fill it in for online purchases.

If you’re an Apple user, then you might be used to this feature already with the Apple Wallet. The good news is that 1Password will seamlessly sync with your already established Apple Wallet to add an extra layer of protection to your credit card information.

1Password Watchtower1Password Watchtower
1Password

Another really cool feature of 1Password is Watchtower, which keeps track of your online security and notifies you of any potential issues. 1Pasword originally designed Watchtower as a way of protecting you against visiting websites that had issues with security—and it still retains that key feature with many upgrades.

Features

  • Watchtower keeps track of the sites you visit and notifies you if there are security issues with any particular site.
  • It’s synced with Have I Been Pwned to track if passwords you use were associated with any data breaches in the past.
  • Watchtower automatically lets you know when you use the same password multiple times.
  • It tells you which websites use two-factor authentication.

We already mentioned that 1Password does not have a continuously free version of its software. It is moderately priced, and, even with a free version of LastPass, you’ll likely need to upgrade once you reach your max number of passwords. (This will happen a lot faster than you think!)

We do recommend you try it. We use it and really like it.

1Password does give you 30 days to try it for free. Don’t worry. If you don’t like it and want to switch after the trial, you can simply import your passwords into a different password manager or go back to how you were doing passwords previously. (You’re not stuck with it!)

We do recommend you try it. We use it and really like it.

Best for small teams, businesses, and families.

So what’s the deciding factor when choosing a password manager?—your needs and how intuitive the software is across your devices. We personally find 1Password to edge out the competition in both of those aspects for us at Howchoo. (We’re also big sticklers on internet security!)

Give it a try!

We like that it makes personal and business internet security as easy as possible, so we can focus our time and energy on the real work at hand—like bringing you these reviews for instance!

Give it a try! And be sure to share this review with anyone who you think would benefit from 1Password and password managers in general!

We’re hiring!
Are you a passionate writer? We want to hear from you!

Want to support Howchoo? When you buy a tool or material through one of our Amazon links, we earn a small commission as an Amazon Associate.

How to Get 1Password for Teams and Why You Need It

1Password’s budget-level password manager for small businesses.
Michael Michael (115)
Total time: 5 minutes 
Updated: November 19th, 2020

When Howchoo switched over to 1Password for Teams, we immediately enjoyed the intuitive interface and the ease with which we were able to share passwords across our team. In fact, we loved it so much that we even wrote a comprehensive review of 1Password, which we recommend you read through to gain a deeper sense of 1Password and password managers in general.

The 1Password Teams account is a moderately-priced business-like account that has all of the features most small teams or organizations will need.

Why your small team should have a password manager

Security

Even a small team or business should have a password security among its team members. Think about it. Are there accounts, credit card information, bank information, etc., that you wouldn’t want available over the internet. If the answer is yes, then you need a password manager like 1Password.

Not only will it protect your own information, but it will also help you make sure that your employees/team members are protecting the valuable data from your business.

If your team works remotely, then it makes even more sense to get a password manager like 1Password.

Password sharing

Probably the biggest benefit of a password manager to a small business or team is the ability to share a password across the organization. Let’s say you want to share the account information for your social media management software with other team members for social posting. With a password manager like 1Password, you’ll just move the information into a “shared vault” to share across the organization—or a smaller shared vault to share with select members.

And if your team works remotely, then it makes even more sense to get a password manager like 1Password.

What makes a “Teams” account with 1Password unique?

The 1Password Teams account is a moderately-priced business-like account that has all of the features most small teams or organizations will need. It’s not as comprehensive as a Business account and does not allow you to have as many team members on the account. It’s basically 1Password’s attempt at offering a business-style password manager at a price that most small organizations can afford. And it’s currently the only password manager that you can use with your Apple watch.

Differences from a Business account

With a 1Password Teams account, you have limited storage capacity per user (1 GB) and can only add 5 guest accounts beyond the team accounts. Business accounts also have VIP support and the ability for each team member to have their own family account at no additional charge.

1Password for Teams specs

Price Max # of Devices Encryption Storage Secure Password Generator Travel Mode Digital Wallet Watchtower Reports
$3.99 per user/mo. Unlimited AES-256 bit 1 GB Yes Yes Yes Yes

Now, we’ll walk you through the steps to getting your own 1Password Teams account.

1Password1Password ×1

Howchoo is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission at no cost to you.

1Password Pricing1Password Pricing

Head over to the 1Password website, where you can take their virtual tour and read about the other cool features of 1Password.

  • Either click on Get Started if you’re on the homepage or Pricing from the top navigational bar.
  • Click on Teams.

You’ll get to try your 1Password team account for 30 days for free.

Create account 1 PasswordCreate account 1 Password

This is the name that you want to call your account. In all likelihood, you’ll want your 1Password team account name to be the name of your organization, unless you’re getting multiple team accounts for different divisions.

  • Write your team name.
  • Write the email address for your company.

Your email should be the email address for your company—one that most of the team has access to, for example—or the account for the person who will delegate the password sharing on 1Password.

6-digit code 1Password6-digit code 1Password

1Password will send you a 6-digit code to verify the email on your account. (It’s all about security!)

  • Enter your 6-digit code.
  • Click Next.
1Password Admin Console1Password Admin Console
Medium

You should now be redirected to your new 1Password teams account. Where you can:

  • Create custom groups
  • Manage team members
  • Import your passwords
  • Create new passwords
  • And more.

Be sure to download the 1Password apps across your devices and instruct your new team members to do so as well.

We’re hiring!
Are you a passionate writer? We want to hear from you!

Want to support Howchoo? When you buy a tool or material through one of our Amazon links, we earn a small commission as an Amazon Associate.

How to Disable a VPN on a Mac in Less Than a Minute

When you need to quickly turn your VPN off.
Michael Michael (115)
Total time: 1 minute 
Updated: November 19th, 2020

Once you’ve set up a VPN on your Mac, we would almost never recommend you disable it. However, when you need some speed for streaming video, playing online games, or other large projects, disabling your VPN on your Mac will likely increase your speed.

Some may also need to disable their VPNs if they connect remotely to their employer’s workspace. Oftentimes, those VPN connections are slow and unwieldy, which will slow down your Mac when you use it for personal reasons. Turning off your VPN on your iPhone will also give you a temporary speed boost.

A speedy VPN

We recommend you try NordVPN for a speedy VPN that you rarely need to disable for reasons of speed or website blockages. Check out our NordVPN review to learn why we love it!

Posted in these interests:
VPN Logo
h/vpn • 9 guides
h/mac • 84 guides
h/macos • 52 guides
VPN icon on MacVPN icon on Mac

In macOS, your VPN icon will appear in the upper menu bar on your Mac. It will look different depending on what VPN you are using.

(My icon is from NordVPN.)

Disconnect VPN macOSDisconnect VPN macOS
  • Click on the VPN icon.
  • Choose Disconnect.

You’re VPN will be disconnected until you decide to turn it back on. If you use something like auto-connect, then your VPN will still auto-connect if you log out and log back into your Mac. Turn that feature off in your VPN setting if you don’t want to use that auto-connect feature in macOS.

Need to turn off your VPN on your iPhone?

Check out our guide that makes it easy to turn off a VPN on your iPhone!

How to Disable a VPN on a Mac in Less Than a Minute

When you need to quickly turn your VPN off.
Michael Michael (115)
Total time: 1 minute 
Updated: November 19th, 2020

Once you’ve set up a VPN on your Mac, we would almost never recommend you disable it. However, when you need some speed for streaming video, playing online games, or other large projects, disabling your VPN on your Mac will likely increase your speed.

Some may also need to disable their VPNs if they connect remotely to their employer’s workspace. Oftentimes, those VPN connections are slow and unwieldy, which will slow down your Mac when you use it for personal reasons. Turning off your VPN on your iPhone will also give you a temporary speed boost.

A speedy VPN

We recommend you try NordVPN for a speedy VPN that you rarely need to disable for reasons of speed or website blockages. Check out our NordVPN review to learn why we love it!

Posted in these interests:
VPN Logo
h/vpn • 9 guides
h/mac • 84 guides
h/macos • 52 guides
VPN icon on MacVPN icon on Mac

In macOS, your VPN icon will appear in the upper menu bar on your Mac. It will look different depending on what VPN you are using.

(My icon is from NordVPN.)

Disconnect VPN macOSDisconnect VPN macOS
  • Click on the VPN icon.
  • Choose Disconnect.

You’re VPN will be disconnected until you decide to turn it back on. If you use something like auto-connect, then your VPN will still auto-connect if you log out and log back into your Mac. Turn that feature off in your VPN setting if you don’t want to use that auto-connect feature in macOS.

Need to turn off your VPN on your iPhone?

Check out our guide that makes it easy to turn off a VPN on your iPhone!

 

How to Disable a VPN on a Mac in Less Than a Minute

When you need to quickly turn your VPN off.
Michael Michael (115)
Total time: 1 minute 
Updated: November 19th, 2020

Once you’ve set up a VPN on your Mac, we would almost never recommend you disable it. However, when you need some speed for streaming video, playing online games, or other large projects, disabling your VPN on your Mac will likely increase your speed.

Some may also need to disable their VPNs if they connect remotely to their employer’s workspace. Oftentimes, those VPN connections are slow and unwieldy, which will slow down your Mac when you use it for personal reasons. Turning off your VPN on your iPhone will also give you a temporary speed boost.

A speedy VPN

We recommend you try NordVPN for a speedy VPN that you rarely need to disable for reasons of speed or website blockages. Check out our NordVPN review to learn why we love it!

Posted in these interests:
VPN Logo
h/vpn • 9 guides
h/mac • 84 guides
h/macos • 52 guides
VPN icon on MacVPN icon on Mac

In macOS, your VPN icon will appear in the upper menu bar on your Mac. It will look different depending on what VPN you are using.

(My icon is from NordVPN.)

Disconnect VPN macOSDisconnect VPN macOS
  • Click on the VPN icon.
  • Choose Disconnect.

You’re VPN will be disconnected until you decide to turn it back on. If you use something like auto-connect, then your VPN will still auto-connect if you log out and log back into your Mac. Turn that feature off in your VPN setting if you don’t want to use that auto-connect feature in macOS.

Need to turn off your VPN on your iPhone?

Check out our guide that makes it easy to turn off a VPN on your iPhone!

How to Disable a VPN on a Mac in Less Than a Minute

When you need to quickly turn your VPN off.
Michael Michael (115)
Total time: 1 minute 
Updated: November 19th, 2020

Once you’ve set up a VPN on your Mac, we would almost never recommend you disable it. However, when you need some speed for streaming video, playing online games, or other large projects, disabling your VPN on your Mac will likely increase your speed.

Some may also need to disable their VPNs if they connect remotely to their employer’s workspace. Oftentimes, those VPN connections are slow and unwieldy, which will slow down your Mac when you use it for personal reasons. Turning off your VPN on your iPhone will also give you a temporary speed boost.

A speedy VPN

We recommend you try NordVPN for a speedy VPN that you rarely need to disable for reasons of speed or website blockages. Check out our NordVPN review to learn why we love it!

Posted in these interests:
VPN Logo
h/vpn • 9 guides
h/mac • 84 guides
h/macos • 52 guides

How to Disable a VPN on a Mac in Less Than a Minute

When you need to quickly turn your VPN off.
Michael Michael (115)
Total time: 1 minute 
Updated: November 19th, 2020
Michael
 
Posted in these interests:
VPN Logo
h/vpn • 9 guides
h/mac • 84 guides
h/macos • 52 guides
Posted in these interests:
VPN Logo
h/vpn • 9 guides
h/mac • 84 guides
h/macos • 52 guides
VPN Logo
Table of Contents

Steps to Disable VPN on a Mac:

  1. Find your VPN icon in the menu bar
  2. Disconnect the VPN
 
In these interests
VPN Logo
h/vpn • 9 guides
h/mac • 84 guides
h/macos • 52 guides
VPN Logo
h/vpn • 9 guides
h/mac • 84 guides
h/macos • 52 guides
VPN Logo
VPN icon on MacVPN icon on Mac

In macOS, your VPN icon will appear in the upper menu bar on your Mac. It will look different depending on what VPN you are using.

(My icon is from NordVPN.)

Disconnect VPN macOSDisconnect VPN macOS
  • Click on the VPN icon.
  • Choose Disconnect.

You’re VPN will be disconnected until you decide to turn it back on. If you use something like auto-connect, then your VPN will still auto-connect if you log out and log back into your Mac. Turn that feature off in your VPN setting if you don’t want to use that auto-connect feature in macOS.

Need to turn off your VPN on your iPhone?

Check out our guide that makes it easy to turn off a VPN on your iPhone!

VPN icon on MacVPN icon on Mac

In macOS, your VPN icon will appear in the upper menu bar on your Mac. It will look different depending on what VPN you are using.

(My icon is from NordVPN.)

VPN icon on MacVPN icon on Mac

In macOS, your VPN icon will appear in the upper menu bar on your Mac. It will look different depending on what VPN you are using.

(My icon is from NordVPN.)

Find your VPN icon in the menu bar

Disconnect VPN macOSDisconnect VPN macOS
  • Click on the VPN icon.
  • Choose Disconnect.

You’re VPN will be disconnected until you decide to turn it back on. If you use something like auto-connect, then your VPN will still auto-connect if you log out and log back into your Mac. Turn that feature off in your VPN setting if you don’t want to use that auto-connect feature in macOS.

Need to turn off your VPN on your iPhone?

Check out our guide that makes it easy to turn off a VPN on your iPhone!

Disconnect VPN macOSDisconnect VPN macOS
  • Click on the VPN icon.
  • Choose Disconnect.

You’re VPN will be disconnected until you decide to turn it back on. If you use something like auto-connect, then your VPN will still auto-connect if you log out and log back into your Mac. Turn that feature off in your VPN setting if you don’t want to use that auto-connect feature in macOS.

Need to turn off your VPN on your iPhone?

Check out our guide that makes it easy to turn off a VPN on your iPhone!

Disconnect the VPN

How to Quickly Turn Off a VPN on Your iPhone How to Quickly Turn Off a VPN on Your iPhoneBecause you’ve been getting too many Captcha stops?
How to Quickly Turn Off a VPN on Your iPhone
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Michael's profile pictureMichael
Joined in 2020
A maker at heart, Michael loves all things DIY. Michael is an award-winning poet, writer, and editor. He has published two books of poetry and has writing in publications such as The Wall Street Journal, New York Magazine, The New Yorker, and many others. He has taught writing at colleges across the country, and managed many leading literary magazines to national prominence. Now, he’s excited to devote his energies full time to Howchoo. He currently resides in the Tampa-area with his wife and puppy.
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The Best Budget 3D Printers Under $300

The best of the budget 3D printers.
Michael Michael (120)
0
Updated: November 19th, 2020

Budget doesn’t have to mean bad when it comes to 3D printers. You can find a great 3D printer for under $300. Heck, we use budget 3D printers for some of our biggest and most practical 3D printed projects here at Howchoo, so we have some great recommendations for you based on how you plan to use the printer.

What to look for in a 3D Printer

Here are a few things to look for when buying a budget 3D printer (and things we’ll be sure to mention when recommending one for you!).

If you’re going to drop hundreds of dollars on a budget-friendly 3D printer, then you want to make sure your investment will last and work properly for years to come.

Print Volume

Essentially, this tells you how big of a 3D-print you can make with the printer. If you’re only going to be using the 3D printer for miniatures or small, practical uses—then you can save some money by going with a printer with a smaller overall build volume.

Filament type(s)

Most 3D printers will be able to handle PLA-type filament, but you should keep an eye out for those that support only specific types of filaments or use a resin-based goo. A resin 3D printer makes highly-detailed, smaller prints—so it is preferred by many who are looking to make miniatures.

Assembly

We’re going to let you know when a 3D printer comes fully assembled, so you know that you don’t have to spend hours putting it together before you can make your first print. Keep in mind that having to assemble a 3D printer does have the benefit of teaching you about its function—but it does require time.

Auto bed leveling

We also mention when a 3D printer has an automatic bed leveling feature that makes it easier to avoid the mistakes common to manual bed leveling. This is a great feature to have when buying a 3D printer for a kid or young adult who might not have the patience required to manually level the bed.

Overall quality

This may seem obvious, but quality varies widely among the 3D printers you come across while browsing on Amazon. If you’re going to drop hundreds of dollars (even when less than $300) on a budget-friendly 3D printer, then you want to make sure your investment will last and work properly for years to come.

Black Friday 2020

Until the end of November, we’ll be updating our 3D printer Black Friday page with the latest deals, including many deals on printers you see here. So be sure to check there for the updated list.

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Creality Ender 3 V2 and Ender 3

The Creality Ender 3 V2 is the newest Ender-series printer, though you’ll be just fine with the original Ender 3, as well. The Ender 3 V2 receives our top marks for an excellent 3D printer that won’t break the bank. while still offering everything you need from a 3D printer. We believe this is the absolute best budget 3D printer you can buy.

Why we love it

Creality really has set the gold standard when it comes to budget 3D printers. It’s dependable, durable, highly customizable, and used by many in the 3D printing community—which means that there are plenty of guides out there to help you with anything and everything!

Creality has become synonymous with quality in the 3D printing world, which should be the most important factor when investing in an expensive (even when budgeted) piece of equipment.

Specs

Print Size Print Precision Heated Bed Filament Types User Interface
220 x 220 x 250mm ±0.1mm Yes PLA/TPU/PETG Screen and rotary knob
Connection OS Compatability Assembly Price
Micro USB Mac/Windows/Linux Partial $279.00

Our Ender 3 and Ender 3 V2 guides

We’ve made many guides on setting up, customizing, and using the Ender 3 and the Ender 3 V2. Check out our Ender 3 interest page and our Ender 3 FAQs once you’ve purchased yours.

Ender 3 Pro

Another great option is the Ender 3 Pro, which for an additional cost gives you the print pausing feature for your 3D prints, which allows you to come back to finish a print later. The Pro also runs quieter with an upgraded Meanwell Power Supply Unit and sturdier overall build. Some may find these features makes it worth the extra cost. But, as of the writing of this guide (Nov. 2020), there is no V2 Pro option yet available.

Geeetech E180

When purchasing a “mini” budget 3D printer, you often have to make sacrifices to get a 3D printer at a manageable size for your space requirement. With the Geeetech E180, that’s going to be true, as well. For example, there’s no heated bed which means you’re stuck with an aluminum bed and the filament spool is not great—so you’ll want to upgrade that at some point.

Still, in our comprehensive test and review of the Geeetech E180, we found a lot to love about it.

Why we love it

While it’s a compact budget 3D printer, it’s still large enough for medium-sized prints. The look and style of the printer will fit nicely into most at-home interior styles. It comes fully assembled (actually fully assembled). And most importantly, it just flat-out makes great, highly detailed prints.

Specs

Print Size Print Precision Heated Bed Filament Types User Interface
130 x 130 x 130mm ±0.05mm No PLA-type Touchscreen
Connection OS Compatability Assembly Price
USB / TF card Windows Fully Assembled $235.99

Tresbro Creality Cr-100 Mini 3D Printer

Built with safety and ease-of-use in mind, the Tresbor Creality Cr-100 Mini would make a great gift for any youngster who loves DIY projects and making things for themselves. It’s a great tool to teach kids the principles of 3D design and engineering.

A parent or adult should always monitor any 3D printer and printing project.

Why we love it

The Tresbro Cr-100 comes fully assembled, which means you can start printing right away without spending the hours normally required for assembly. This also means that a kid can start trying it out (with parental supervision) without having to wait. True auto bed-leveling means that kids won’t have to adjust the bed before each print. And because it’s from Creality, you can be sure that it will be made from quality parts.

Specs

Print Size Print Precision Heated Bed Filament Types User Interface
100 x 100 x 80mm ±0.1mm Yes PLA-type Touchscreen
Connection OS Compatability Assembly Price
Micro USB Mac/Windows Fully Assembled $169.99.00

FlashForge Adventurer 3 Lite

What’s so great about having your budget 3D printer encased? Well for one, it makes for a much quieter printer overall. Secondly, it keeps the printer free from dust, particles, or anything else that might fall in during a print. And you can easily add a tube to vent the fumes when printing with toxic filament like ABS.

What we love about it

The FlashForge Adventurer 3 Lite has a nice, compact design that looks great in just about any space. We’re also impressed with the variety of filaments with which it can print and its full-color touchscreen. It hovers the line between budget and mid-range printer at $300, but it’s definitely a noticeable upgrade from some of the less expensive 3D printers on our list. And no build-plate leveling required…that’s pretty nice!

Specs

Print Size Print Precision Heated Bed Filament Types User Interface
150 x 150 x 150mm N/A Yes PLA, ABS, Wood and Metal-filled PLA Touchscreen
Connection OS Compatability Assembly Price
USB / WiFi Windows/MacOS/Linux Partial $299.99

Anycubic Photon Printer

If you’re looking for an inexpensive resin (SLA) printer to 3D print your highly detailed miniatures or other figurines, then the base Anycubic Photon makes a great budget option. And if you’re using this for role-playing games, why not split this with some friends to make it even less expensive to own!

What we love about it

The Photon 3D printer comes fully assembled, which saves you serious setup time. While we would have liked to have more network capabilities from this one, it does help to simplify the usage of the Photon. We’re also impressed with the speed with which it’s able to print highly-detailed miniatures. And like many ANYCUBIC products, it features a very attractive design that will look great in a variety of spaces.

Specs

Print Size Print Precision Heated Bed Filament Types User Interface
200 x 200 x 400mm N/A N/A Photosensitive resin Touchscreen
Connection OS Compatability Assembly Price
USB Windows/MacOS Fully assembled $189.99

Photon S (premium version)

We reviewed the upgraded version of this printer, the Photon S, and were seriously impressed with the quality of the 3D prints. We would include that printer here, except that the current price is $389.99, which puts it just out of our budget printer price range. Still, we’ll include our review of the ANYCUBIC Photon S here, in case you’re considering spending just a bit more on a resin printer. The Photon S fixes a few issues with the base level Photon featured here, such as reducing the Z-axis wobble and enhancing the carbon filtration system to reduce toxic fumes.

da Vinci Mini Wireless 3D Printer

The entry-level budget 3D printer from da Vinci goes above and beyond to make this budget-friendly option a great learning tool for kids or anyone new to 3D printing. It’s also designed with safety in mind, from the protective cap on the extruder to the cornstarch-based safe PLA.

What we love about it

Because da Vinci partners with XYZ printing, XYZ provides built-in lessons and other goodies to help newcomers learn about 3D printing, like activities designed to teach the basic mechanics of 3D printing. If you upgrade to a steel nozzle, you can print carbon fiber and metallic-based PLA. It also connects over WiFi, so you don’t have to worry about wires or SD cards. And auto-leveling is always going to win over our hearts!

Print Size Print Precision Heated Bed Filament Types User Interface
150 x 150 x 150mm ±0.1 Yes XYZ PLA only WiFi app
Connection OS Compatability Assembly Price
WiFi Windows/MacOS/Android/iOS Fully assembled $199.95

Note: only works with XYZ biodegradable and non-toxic PLA filament. So you might want to pick up some when you buy the printer.

Monoprice Cadet 3D Printer

At the low price of $179.99, you’re seriously getting a high-quality budget 3D printer with some great features that even its more expensive counterparts aren’t offering. Monoprice is certainly one of the bigger names in 3D printing, so there are plenty of trusted customers and reviews.

What we love about it

The Monoprice Cadet comes loaded with cool features like built-in printing via WiFi with their Monoprice app and auto leveling. It comes fully assembled, so you don’t have to spend extra time getting this one set up. It’s also great for those with little available space for a 3D printer. It weighs only 6lbs and measures 12″ x 12″ x 17″.

Also a great printer for kids and young adults.

Print Size Print Precision Heated Bed Filament Types User Interface
100 x 105 x 100mm N/A No PLA-type Touchscreen
Connection OS Compatability Assembly Price
USB/ WiFi Windows/MacOS/Android/iOS Fully assembled $179.99

Anycubic Mega S

We wanted to highlight a nice alternative in the “overall” budget 3D printer category to the Ender 3 V2. This also happens to be a smaller, less expensive version of the ANYCUBIC Mega X, which we reviewed thoroughly and found to be great. And really the only difference between the two is the print volume, so you should definitely see our review of the Anycubic Mega X to get an in-depth look at this printer.

What we love about it

The Mega S’s print volume is quite large, given the overall size of the printer—so you can build some of those bigger prints you’ll find on Thingiverse. We also love the design of the Mega S, as it has that industrial feel to its look. The Mega S includes a filament sensor that detects when your print has been disrupted, so it can pause the print to be resumed later when the issues are resolved. It’s also just a well-made printer that made great 3D prints in our testing.

Specs

Print Size Print Precision Heated Bed Filament Types User Interface
210 x 210 x 205mm ±0.1 Yes PLA-type Touchscreen
Connection OS Compatability Assembly Price
SD card / USB Windows/MacOS/Linux Partial assembly $269.99
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