NordVPN Review: Real-World Test Across 4 Countries

I’ve tried my fair share of VPNs over the years. There are so many out there, it can get pretty overwhelming... But NordVPN kept coming up in conversations with other digital nomads.

Headquartered in privacy-friendly Panama, NordVPN is one of the most well-known VPN providers in the world, with over 14 million users, 6,000+ servers in 60 countries, and a strong reputation for speed and security.

So I finally decided to give it a proper test during my travels, and... NordVPN held up surprisingly well. In this review, I’ll share what impressed me, what could be better, and how it compares to other popular VPNs to help you decide if it’s the right choice for your remote lifestyle.

NordVPN: Our Quick Verdict

What We Liked About NordVPN

Server coverage

One of the first things I noticed about NordVPN was just how many servers it has: over 7,800 in 118 countries. I didn’t think that would matter much until I found myself in smaller towns where other VPNs would totally choke... With NordVPN, I could always find a decent connection nearby, which made a big difference for both work and streaming.

Security and privacy

Public Wi-Fi is part of the deal as a digital nomad, but it always makes me nervous. I liked knowing that NordVPN uses top-level AES-256 encryption (the kind governments use), but what really sold me was the kill switch. One night in Bali, the Wi-Fi cut out during a call, and Nord instantly blocked all traffic until the connection came back. Nothing leaked, and I didn’t have to think about it.

I also tried Double VPN a few times when the network felt especially sketchy. It routes your connection through two servers, which is probably overkill most of the time, but good to have when you're working from that one café with a suspiciously open Wi-Fi network.

Performance and speed

A lot of VPNs turn your connection into molasses. NordVPN didn't. Even when I connected to faraway servers, like when I was in India and using US Netflix, the speeds were still good enough for HD streaming and Zoom calls. I later found out they use something called NordLynx, which is built for speed.

If you’re into speed tests and want the nitty-gritty, I break down my real-world results later in this guide!

Streaming and compatibility

Speaking of Netflix, NordVPN unblocks different Netflix libraries and works with services like Disney+, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. That way, you can always keep up with your favorite series or movies without using sketchy sites.

Plus, it’s compatible with devices like Android TV, Fire TV Stick, and routers, meaning you can connect it directly to the place you’re staying.

Threat protection

This is one of those features I didn’t think I’d care about, but I ended up liking it. It blocks ads and stops malware, even when the VPN isn’t technically “on.” It quietly saved me from a couple of spammy coworking directory sites, so yeah, I’m keeping it on.

Meshnet (if you’re into that)

I played around with Meshnet to connect to my homebase computer while traveling. It’s not something I use daily, but if you work across multiple devices or want a way to move files around securely, it’s nice to have. Definitely a bonus, not a must-have.

NordVPN Pricing and Plans

NordVPN has three pricing tiers: Basic, Plus, and Complete. While it’s not the cheapest VPN out there, the features you get do justify the price (especially if you lock in a long-term plan).

Here’s a quick breakdown of what the plans look like:

Here’s what each plan includes, in real terms:

• Basic: VPN protection on up to 10 devices, fast speeds, solid security.
• Plus: Adds malware protection, ad/tracker blocking, and a password manager (which comes super handy when juggling different work accounts on the go).
• Complete: Everything above, plus 1 TB of encrypted cloud storage. Great if you deal with sensitive files or want a secure backup while traveling.

I personally started with Basic, but if you’re planning to use NordVPN as an all-in-one privacy tool, the Plus or Complete plans give a lot more value for a few extra bucks a month.

NordVPN Real-World Performance and Speed

Of course, VPNs are notorious for slowing things down. So I paid close attention to NordVPN’s performance while working from different countries over the last few months.

Here’s a quick breakdown of what I experienced:

Thailand and Portugal were the smoothest. In both places, I barely noticed the VPN was even on, everything just worked.

Bali was a bit more hit-or-miss, but honestly, the internet there is just not the most reliable in general. Even without a VPN, speeds weren’t amazing. That said, NordVPN still held up well enough for me to get my work done.

Mexico landed somewhere in between. I stayed in a few different spots, and overall the performance stayed pretty stable. I usually had NordVPN running in the background and never really had to think about it, which is kind of the goal.

So yeah, you lose a bit of speed (around 10–15%) but unless you’re doing super heavy tasks all day long, it's going to be fine.

NordVPN vs. Surfshark and ProtonVPN

There are so many VPNs out there that it can get a bit overwhelming. I’ve personally tested Surfshark and ProtonVPN while working remotely over the past year, so here’s a quick breakdown of how they compare from my point of view:

Surfshark

Surfshark is a great budget option if you don’t want to spend too much but still want good performance. You can use it on unlimited devices, which is super useful if you're switching between laptops, phones, or even sharing with a partner. The speeds are solid, and security-wise, it covers all the basics. The only downside for me is the smaller server network. You sometimes need to try a couple of different servers before landing on a good one.

ProtonVPN

If that’s your top priority, ProtoVPN is worth looking into. It even has a free version (which I tried for a bit), though it's pretty limited in terms of speed and server options. Paid plans are more robust and include cool extras like Secure Core routing, but I found the streaming hit-or-miss. Netflix worked sometimes, but not always, and buffering was a thing. Still, if you mainly want something super secure for browsing, it does the job.

Is NordVPN Still Worth It in 2025?

Short answer: Yeah, it is.

If what you care about most is speed, security, and knowing your connection won’t let you down, NordVPN is still one of the best options out there in 2025. It hits that sweet spot between performance and privacy, which is exactly what I need when I’m constantly switching between sketchy airport Wi-Fi and coworking spaces in new cities.

Video calls, streaming, uploading work, browsing... everything just runs smoothly. So if you’ve got a bit of budget to spend, NordVPN’s definitely worth it.

At the end of the day, whichever VPN you choose, protecting your connection is just smart. Especially when your whole lifestyle depends on it. You don’t need the fanciest option, you just need the one that fits your needs (and budget) as a remote worker.

Ready to Try NordVPN?

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