Comparing NordVPN Basic vs Plus vs Complete Plans

NordVPN is a leading VPN service known for its robust security features and competitive pricing. This guide will help you understand NordVPN’s pricing plans and what each offers ⇣, so you can choose the best option for your needs.

With over 14 million users worldwide, NordVPN has established itself as a top choice for those seeking online privacy and security. But what makes it stand out in a crowded market of VPN providers?

Let’s dive into NordVPN’s features, plans, and pricing to see if it lives up to the hype.

NordVPN Pricing: An Overview

NordVPN offers three main subscription plans: Basic, Plus, and Complete. Each plan is available in monthly, yearly, or two-year options, with significant discounts for longer commitments.

NordVPN Plan	Monthly Cost	Features
2-year (Basic plan)	$3.59 per month	VPN, malware protection, ad blocker
2-year (Plus plan)	$4.49 per month	Basic features + password manager, data breach scanner
2-year (Complete plan)	$5.49 per month	Plus features + 1TB encrypted cloud storage

Note: Prices may vary based on current promotions and your location. Always check the official NordVPN website for the most up-to-date pricing.

NordVPN Basic Plan: Essential Protection

The Basic plan is NordVPN’s entry-level offering, providing core VPN functionality:

• Access to 5,800+ servers in 60 countries
• Next-generation encryption
• Malware protection
• Ad and tracker blocker
• No-logs policy
• 24/7 customer support

This plan is ideal for users who primarily need a VPN for basic online privacy and security.

NordVPN Plus Plan: Enhanced Security

The Plus plan includes everything in the Basic plan, with additional features:

• NordPass Password Manager
• Data breach scanner

This plan is suitable for users who want extra layers of security for their online accounts and personal information.

NordVPN Complete Plan: All-in-One Solution

The Complete plan offers the most comprehensive package:

• All features from Basic and Plus plans
• 1TB of encrypted cloud storage (NordLocker)

This plan is perfect for users who need a complete privacy and security solution, including secure file storage.

Key Features of NordVPN

Regardless of the plan you choose, NordVPN offers several standout features:

• Fast Connection Speeds: NordVPN consistently ranks among the fastest VPNs, ensuring smooth streaming and browsing experiences.
• Strong Security: AES-256 encryption, a strict no-logs policy, and additional features like Double VPN and Onion over VPN provide robust protection.
• Large Server Network: With over 5,800 servers across 60 countries, NordVPN offers excellent global coverage.
• Streaming Support: NordVPN effectively unblocks popular streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.
• User-Friendly Apps: Available for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, Linux, and more, with intuitive interfaces.

Is NordVPN Worth the Price?

When considering NordVPN’s pricing, it’s important to weigh the features and benefits against the cost. Here are some key points to consider:

• Value for Money: While not the cheapest VPN, NordVPN offers competitive pricing, especially for long-term plans.
• Feature-Rich Service: The additional security features and tools provide excellent value, particularly in the Plus and Complete plans.
• Performance: NordVPN’s fast speeds and reliable connections justify its pricing for many users.
• Security and Privacy: The robust security features and strict no-logs policy make NordVPN a trustworthy choice for privacy-conscious users.

For many users, the combination of features, performance, and security make NordVPN worth the investment, especially when opting for longer-term plans that offer significant discounts.

Conclusion: Choosing the Right NordVPN Plan

NordVPN offers a range of plans to suit different needs and budgets. Here’s a quick guide to help you choose:

• Basic Plan: Best for users who primarily need VPN protection and basic security features.
• Plus Plan: Ideal for those who want additional account security with password management and data breach monitoring.
• Complete Plan: Perfect for users seeking a comprehensive security solution, including secure cloud storage.

Remember, NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, allowing you to try the service risk-free. Consider your online activities, security needs, and budget when making your decision.

Ultimately, NordVPN’s combination of features, performance, and competitive pricing makes it a solid choice for many users looking to enhance their online privacy and security.

For the latest deals and to sign up, visit the official NordVPN website.

You know that if someone logs your data, it’s only a matter of time until someone else gets to it. Not even the NSA can keep their data secure! 

The magnitude of cybercrime hacking these days is truly terrifying, and if you add to that the growing numbers of scam projects and the fact that only 1 crime in 4 is reported and only 1 in 4 is recorded and only 1 in 4 is successfully resolved (multiply the damage by 64 to get to the real picture of the damage)…ouch! It becomes obvious the less your activity gets logged the better. 

That’s why NordVPN doesn’t record IPs, visited websites, downloaded files, and so on. But don’t forget that it will keep some data on file (like payment info). 

Make sure you visit the FAQ here to do your own research on what’s in small font at the back of the T+Cs.

Compatibility across the board

Compatible with Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Android TV, Firefox, Chrome, and Linux

Global access

With a huge list of countries available, you can start using the NordVPN app from more or less anywhere. 

Here’s an example of one of the technologies NordVPN uses to keep your data safe: PFS:

“The idea of ‘Perfect Forward Secrecy’, or sometimes simply ‘Forward Secrecy’, is that something that is encrypted and so considered ‘secret’ now, should remain encrypted and so not easier discovered in the future. If there is a means whereby the ‘secret’ can be revealed in the future, then there is no ‘forward secrecy’, meaning that while the information may be protected now, it may not be at some future point in time…”

Perfect Forward Security protects a secure message exchange from future disclosure by breaking of the encryption due to loss or disclosure of the private key used in the key exchange. It achieves this by extending the key exchange mechanism and using intermediate temporary encryption to protect the exchange of the symmetric encryption key. This means a future loss or disclosure of the private key can no longer be used to decrypt the secure message, e.g. perfect forward security”.”

CISO Central

“IKEv2/IPSec offers improved security and privacy through the use of very strong cryptographic algorithms and keys. For instance, NordVPN uses Next Generation Encryption (NGE) in its implementation of this protocol. The ciphers used to generate Phase1 keys are AES-256-GCM for encryption, SHA2-384 to ensure integrity, combined with PFS (Perfect Forward Secrecy) using 3072-bit Diffie Hellman keys. IPSec then secures the tunnel between the client and server using AES256 encryption. IKEv2/IPSec provides users with peace of mind, security, stability and speed.”

Techradar.

Questions and Answers

Does NordVPN offer a free trial?

Yes! However, bear in mind it’s not a “free” free trial as in you just download the software, install it, and use it for a month. You will need to give up your card details and get charged. 

But as you will no doubt agree, it’s so worth it – plus, cancellation is easy and straightforward (don’t miss that confirmation email!) and the support is always there to help. By the way, the crypto option is still there.  Plus, there’s always an awesome new deal coming out on the conveyor belt. 

How does NordVPN pricing compare against competitors?

As you’ll see, there are cheaper options out there but (if we can be so bold) you can’t really think of a price alone. What matters is how much quality you’re getting for it.

For example, just buying cheap food may prove a great choice in the short term but can also prove to bring some unexpected medical bills. It’s the same with NordVPN pricing and plans. There are cheaper options out there. Considering the service you’ll get? This is by far the best deal possible.

What is their money-back policy?

You can find out more here (source) but the short and sweet version is: the support is brilliant, there’s a 30-day money-back guarantee policy (similar to other VPNs like ExpressVPN), and cancellation doesn’t take long and doesn’t require a lot of effort.

Why does strong encryption like AES-256 matter?

VPNs are essential to privacy and security. However, not all VPNs have the same level of encryption – some are even vulnerable to cyberattacks by design. Yet others will actually plant malicious software in your system. Ouch!

AES-256 is 256-bit encryption that has become the standard for VPNs, and it’s a very good sign if your VPN has it. 

The reason AES-256 is so important and considered to be one of the best options for a VPN is that it offers some serious security features.

Like perfect forward secrecy (PFS) and data authentication with message integrity. More on that later.

This deal is so good it sorta kinda sounds suspicious

Understandable, but also imagine: the cybersecurity niche is truly colossal these days, with Statista quoting it as a $23.6 billion industry in 2019 that will hit $35.73 billion in 2024.

In this business, competition is fierce, to say the least. Whoever gets ahead stands to win untold fortunes. Therefore, it’s perfectly natural for large companies to ferociously compete and offer their clients fantastically tempting deals. 

I heard that if I really want to get to know the product I should find out who the team is. Can you help?

You’re totally right to want to research the team before you deal with a project. In fact, it’s what billion-dollar Wall Street investors do. You can read about the agenda from the point of view of NordVPN’s co-founder Tom Okman here.

You’ll also find out who owns it, what companies are involved under the umbrella, and what the legal and licensing situation is thanks to a small investigation launched by ZDnet.com in May 2020 (May the Fourth be with you). 

Is NordVPN all there is?

According to ZDNet, In fact, NordVPN is only a part of a family of products (some of them you may have heard of): 

“NordVPN: The consumer VPN offering designed to protect mobile devices.

NordVPN Teams: An extension of NordVPN with SMB and enterprise capabilities.

NordLynx: An extended protocol based on the widely-lauded open-source WireGuard technology.

NordPass: NordSec’s version of a password manager.

NordLocker: Secured cloud-based file storage.”

I’m a student. Is there anything you can do for me?

Not only are students’ quests for knowledge and their courage to brave the terra incognita admirable, but we’re also certain young people are the future, and as one of the leading companies in the field, NordVPN knows that. Students get a special discount with Student Beans that you can check out here. Nothing is more valuable than learning. Great job!

Is there somewhere I can read more? I like to know everything there is to know about a subject.

Cybersecurity is an endlessly exciting field on just about every level there is. Check out NordVPN’s exciting blog for fresh and intriguing information and see how far the rabbit hole takes you! And please don’t tell anyone we used the word “fresh” in order to appeal to young people, we know it’s dated. Like, carbon-dated.

I am a hardcore crypto fan, and I strongly believe crypto is the future. Please tell me you’re on the same page!

The creators of NordVPN actually do believe that new technologies are the future. In fact, history shows that all the way through the existence of any civilization, whether it came to business, military, economics, or pretty much anything else, the companies and people who won were the ones with the best technology. This is a foundational rule of doing business in the 21st (or any) century. 

Therefore, not only is NordVPN this popular thanks to a huge variety of the latest tech it uses – it also accepts crypto as payment (credit cards, Google Pay, Amazon Pay, UnionPay, ACH Transfer, and cryptocurrencies to be exact). 

Doesn’t this make your heart beat faster, crypto enthusiast?

Where would we be without crypto? Dogecoin for the win! Just kidding.

P.S.S.T. Actually, some of the algorithms NordVPN uses to encrypt your data life like PFS come from crypto, so if you like crypto for its safety, you’ll love NordVPN.

Our Verdict – Is NordVPN worth the money?

With amazing features like fast streaming, strong encryption, a kill switch, clearly superior connection speeds, and unparalleled technologies plus a very customer-loyal attitude, to name just a few, NordVPN, with its laughably low pricing, is a must on every PC and device in every home!

Take advantage of the deal here now; this will be one of the best investments you have ever made!

How We Review VPNs: Our Methodology

In our mission to find and recommend the best VPN services, we follow a detailed and rigorous review process. Here’s what we focus on to ensure we provide the most reliable and relevant insights:

1. Features and Unique Qualities: We explore each VPN’s features, asking: What does the provider offer? What sets it apart from others, such as proprietary encryption protocols or ad and malware blocking?
2. Unblocking and Global Reach: We assess the VPN’s ability to unblock sites and streaming services and explore its global presence by asking: How many countries does the provider operate in? How many servers does it have?
3. Platform Support and User Experience: We examine the supported platforms and the ease of the sign-up and setup process. Questions include: What platforms does the VPN support? How straightforward is the user experience from start to finish?
4. Performance Metrics: Speed is key for streaming and torrenting. We check the connection, upload, and download speeds and encourage users to verify these on our VPN speed test page.
5. Security and Privacy: We delve into the technical security and privacy policy of each VPN. Questions include: What encryption protocols are used, and how secure are they? Can you trust the provider’s privacy policy?
6. Customer Support Evaluation: Understanding the quality of customer service is crucial. We ask: How responsive and knowledgeable is the customer support team? Do they genuinely assist, or just push sales?
7. Pricing, Trials, and Value for Money: We consider the cost, available payment options, free plans/trials, and money-back guarantees. We ask: Is the VPN worth its price compared to what’s available in the market?
8. Additional Considerations: We also look at self-service options for users, such as knowledge bases and setup guides, and the ease of cancellation.

Learn more about our review methodology.

References

• https://www.bbc.com/news/business-56069472
• https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/scam-statistics
• https://www.torproject.org
• https://nordvpn-us.connect.studentbeans.com/us
• https://www.techradar.com/au/blog/vpn/what-server-categories-and-protocols-does-nordvpn-have-and-which-should-i-use
• https://www.ciso-central.org/transport-layer-security/perfect-forward-secrecy
• https://www.statista.com/statistics/542817/worldwide-virtual-private-network-market/
• https://www.zdnet.com/article/meet-nordsec-the-company-behind-nordvpn-wants-to-be-your-one-stop-privacy-suite/
• https://nordvpn.com/blog/what-can-someone-do-with-your-ip-address/