NordVPN Review

Reviewed by the VPNStreamer Team · Last updated: July 2026 · How we compare VPNs

NordVPN is our #1 overall pick on the full best VPN for Australia list — the fastest mainstream protocol we’ve seen benchmarked, the most Australian-specific server infrastructure of any provider, and a genuinely independently audited no-logs policy. Here’s the full picture.

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SPECIAL OFFER – Save up to 72% on the 2-Year Plan

Quick Guide to NordVPN

NordVPN runs 7,800+ servers across 118+ countries, including around 200 servers across five Australian cities — Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, and Adelaide. You get 10 simultaneous device connections, independently audited no-logs privacy, and NordLynx — NordVPN’s own tuned implementation of WireGuard, consistently one of the fastest protocols in third-party testing.

NordVPN Pricing

The 1-month plan is priced comparably to other top-tier VPNs and not where NordVPN’s value shows — the 2-year plan is where it becomes genuinely competitive. There’s no free trial, but the 30-day money-back guarantee lets you test it risk-free.

At sign-up, you’ll also see NordPass (password manager) and NordLocker (encrypted file storage) offered as bundles at a discount — pricing on these varies by current promotion, so check what’s shown at checkout rather than relying on a fixed figure here.

Key Features

Protocol Support

NordVPN supports OpenVPN (UDP/TCP), IKEv2/IPSec, and its own NordLynx protocol (built on WireGuard) — the default and fastest option for most users. A newer protocol, NordWhisper, is designed specifically to improve connectivity in restrictive network environments where standard VPN traffic gets blocked. Perfect Forward Secrecy generates a new encryption key on every connection, so a compromised session can’t expose past or future activity.

DNS Service

All DNS requests route through NordVPN’s own servers, avoiding the DNS leak risk that comes with relying on your ISP’s DNS.

Platforms Supported

Native apps for Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV, and routers. The Windows app is the most fully-featured; iOS and macOS specifically lack split tunneling due to Apple’s platform restrictions.

Device Support

10 simultaneous connections per account, or effectively unlimited if you install NordVPN on a compatible router and connect your whole household through it.

Threat Protection

NordVPN’s ad, tracker, and malware blocker — formerly branded CyberSec, now Threat Protection. The basic version works across most platforms and blocks known-malicious domains at the DNS level. Threat Protection Pro (available on higher-tier plans) goes further, scanning downloaded files and blocking trackers within web pages — though it’s not currently available on mobile devices.

Privacy and Security

NordVPN is headquartered in Panama, outside the Five/Nine/Fourteen Eyes intelligence-sharing alliances and without mandatory data retention laws — see our 5/9/14 Eyes explainer for why that matters.

Its no-logs policy has been independently audited multiple times over the years, most recently by PwC. All servers run in RAM-disk mode, meaning nothing is written to a hard drive and everything is wiped on every reboot. NordLynx also uses a double NAT system, letting NordVPN establish your connection without needing to store identifying data tied to it, and servers use shared IP addresses — since you’re sharing an IP with other users on the same server, no single address traces back to one specific person.

Obfuscated servers are available for locations with heavy internet censorship, disguising the fact you’re using a VPN at all — useful in countries that actively block VPN traffic, though as with any “does it work in restrictive country X” claim, treat it as a starting point to verify closer to when you actually need it rather than a permanent guarantee.

Static or Dedicated IP Addresses

A dedicated IP add-on is available at checkout. Useful for accessing services that flag shared VPN IPs as suspicious, or where you specifically need the same IP address every time you connect.

Kill Switch

NordVPN offers two kill switch types: an Internet Kill Switch (blocks all traffic via the firewall if the VPN drops) and an App Kill Switch (closes specific apps if the connection drops, without blocking all traffic). The Internet Kill Switch is the more complete option if IP leaks are your main concern. It’s on by default on mobile, but needs to be manually enabled on desktop.

Tor Support

NordVPN supports Onion Over VPN for extra anonymity, routing your connection through the Tor network on top of the VPN itself — slower than a standard connection due to the extra routing hops, but a genuine option if you need it.

Ease of Use

Sign-Up

Sign-up only requires an active email address — no extensive personal details needed, and combined with a privacy-friendly payment method, you can subscribe with a reasonable degree of anonymity if that matters to you.

Setup and Interface

The apps are straightforward: a Quick Connect option gets you onto the fastest available server with one click, or you can browse the full server list to pick a specific location or specialty server (P2P, Double VPN, obfuscated). Settings for Threat Protection, auto-connect, startup behaviour, and the kill switch are all easily accessible from the main menu.

Performance and Servers

NordVPN consistently ranks among the fastest VPNs in independent, third-party speed testing, with NordLynx commonly benchmarked in the high 400s to 500+ Mbps range on strong connections. We haven’t run our own lab-based speed tests on this specific connection (see our methodology), so treat this as a reflection of current third-party benchmarks rather than an in-house result. As with most providers, speeds to more distant regions (particularly parts of Asia-Pacific) tend to see a bigger drop than nearby servers.

Streaming and Torrenting

NordVPN’s SmartPlay feature combines DNS and VPN technology specifically to get past tough streaming geo-blocks, and reliably unblocks Netflix across multiple regional libraries, plus BBC iPlayer, Hulu, Amazon Prime Video, HBO Max, Disney+, and Hotstar. Torrenting is supported on dedicated P2P servers, though NordVPN doesn’t offer port forwarding — if that specifically matters to you, see our Private Internet Access review instead.

Get NordVPN

SPECIAL OFFER – Save up to 72% on the 2-Year Plan

Customer Service

24/7 live chat is available directly from the NordVPN website, no login required. Response times are typically fast, and support is handled in-house rather than outsourced.

FAQ

Is NordVPN legal in Australia?

Yes — no VPN is illegal in Australia. What you do while using one is what determines legality, not the VPN itself.

Has NordVPN been hacked?

A single server was compromised in 2019 via a vulnerability in a third-party data center provider, not a flaw in NordVPN’s own systems. NordVPN responded with an extensive security overhaul, including the shift to RAM-disk servers, and there’s been no repeat incident since.

Is NordVPN free?

No — it’s a paid, premium VPN. The closest you’ll get to free is the 30-day money-back guarantee.

Is NordVPN trustworthy?

Yes — its no-logs policy has been independently audited multiple times, and its RAM-only server infrastructure backs up the claim technically, not just contractually.

Can you be tracked while using NordVPN?

NordVPN runs its own private DNS servers specifically to prevent DNS leaks, one of the more common ways a VPN user’s activity can still be exposed to their ISP.

How much does NordVPN cost in Australia?

The 2-year plan works out to $3.59/month, the 1-year plan to $4.59/month, and the monthly plan is $12.99. Prices are shown in USD at checkout, converted at the current exchange rate.

Is NordVPN better than Norton Secure VPN?

Yes, for most users — Norton’s VPN comes from an antivirus company first and a VPN provider second, and doesn’t support torrenting. NordVPN is a dedicated VPN service with a far broader feature set.

Who owns NordVPN?

NordVPN’s parent company, Nord Security, is based in Panama — outside the Five/Nine/Fourteen Eyes intelligence-sharing alliances. Nord Security also owns Surfshark, following a 2022 merger.

Should I leave NordVPN running all the time?

Generally yes — it protects you from casual snooping on public WiFi and keeps your browsing private from your ISP, which matters given Australia’s mandatory two-year data retention scheme applies regardless of what you’re doing online.

Is NordVPN Right for You?

NordVPN suits most people well — it’s fast, well-audited, and backed by the most Australian-specific server infrastructure we’ve found in any provider. If you want a single VPN that handles streaming, general privacy, and everyday security without compromise, it’s genuinely our top pick. The main reasons to look elsewhere: if you specifically need port forwarding for torrenting (Private Internet Access), want unlimited device connections (Surfshark), or care more about non-profit ownership than raw speed (ProtonVPN).

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