NordVPN is one of the biggest (and most popular) VPN providers on the market. In fact, it’s our top-rated VPN service. It has an impressive network of over 5,000 servers across 60 countries. It offers very fast connections, reliable unblocking of popular streaming services, and a very strong set of security features.
While NordVPN is the best VPN available, there are a number of other VPNs that give it a run for its money. In fact, there are hundreds of VPN services available, from free to paid. The quality of these VPNs can vary significantly, as can the subscription prices. In this post, we’ll explore NordVPN, how much it costs, and how you can try it for free.
Is NordVPN free?
No, NordVPN is not a free VPN service. It offers one month, one year, and two year subscription plans. You can try NordVPN for free. Its 30-day money-back guarantee is a risk-free way of trying out its service (more on this later). Furthermore, it offers a free trial for Android devices.
How much does NordVPN cost?
NordVPN provides three subscription durations: one month, one year, and two years. It also has three different tiers of plans: Standard, Plus, and Complete. Plus includes a password manager and data breach scanner while Complete offers these features as well as cloud storage (1 TB) and file encryption.
The most expensive option per month is the one month subscription. This costs USD $12.99/month (Standard), $13.79/month (Plus), and $14.99 (Complete). If you opt for a one year subscription plan, you’ll pay the full amount up front. Standard is $59.99 ($4.99/month), Plus is $69.48 ($5.79/month), and Complete is $83.88 ($6.99/month).
A two year subscription works out at even less per month (but more up front). Furthermore, NordVPN is currently offering three extra months with all of its two year plans. Standard is priced at $102.33 ($3.79/month), Plus is $123.93 ($4.59/month), and Complete costs $156.33 ($5.79/month).
Here’s how that all looks in one easy-to-read table:
| Monthly plan | 1 year plan | 2 year plan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $12.99 | $4.99 ($59.88 total) | $3.79 ($102.33 total) |
| Plus | $13.79 | $5.79 ($69.48 total) | $4.59 ($123.93 total) |
| Complete | $14.99 | $6.99 ($83.88 total) | $5.79 ($156.33 total) |
Needless to say, the one month plan costs more per month but you have the option to cancel at short notice and don’t need to pay as much up front. A one or two year plan requires a larger initial payment but works out far cheaper on average each month.
Does NordVPN have a free trial?
Yes, NordVPN has a 7-day free trial, but it’s only available for Android devices. In order to get it, you must download the NordVPN app via the Google Play Store. The free trial is offered by Google Play and follows its Terms of Service.
Here’s how to get the NordVPN free trial:
- Open the Google Play Store and search for NordVPN.
- Click to download and install the app.
- Select Sign up to create a new account (email and password).
- Click on How NordVPN 7-day free trial works followed by Start your free week.
- Enter your payment information.
How to cancel your NordVPN free trial
You might decide NordVPN isn’t quite right for you or that you need more time to make a decision. In this case, you’ll want to cancel your NordVPN free trial before you’re charged. Be sure to cancel your free trial before the 7 day free trial comes to a close. You’ll receive a reminder on day 5 of the free trial.
Here’s how to cancel your 7-day NordVPN free trial on Android:
- Open the Google Play Store app.
- Tap the profile icon in the top right.
- Select Payments & subscriptions > Subscriptions.
- Tap on the NordVPN subscription listed.
- Click on Cancel subscription and click to confirm.
How else can I try NordVPN for free?
If you don’t have an Android device or you simply want to try NordVPN on another operating system such as iOS, you’ll want to try NordVPN’s risk-free 30-day money-back guarantee. It can be used on Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Linux, and Amazon Fire TV. It’s also significantly longer than the 7-day free trial on Android.
However, with the money-back guarantee you have to pay upfront and remember to cancel before the end of the 30-day period to get a refund. Note that NordVPN can’t issue refunds for purchases made through Apple’s App Store. All plans come with the 30-day money-back guarantee, regardless of subscription duration or tier.
Here’s how to try NordVPN for free (for 30 days):
- Sign up for a NordVPN account by selecting your preferred subscription plan. You’ll need to enter your email address and payment details.
- Download and install the VPN app that’s compatible with your device. NordVPN lets you have up to six simultaneous connections per account.
- Now you can open the VPN app (you may be asked to sign in) and connect to a server.
- Changed your mind? Be sure to cancel within 30 days to ensure you get a full refund.
NordVPN FAQs
What’s the difference between NordVPN and free VPNs?
Although NordVPN has a 7-day free trial on Android as well as a 30-day money-back guarantee, it’s not a free VPN service. Both are just short-term ways to try the service without having to commit financially. Ultimately, you’d need to pay for a subscription, be it a short one month plan or a longer one or two year plan.
A free VPN tends to be far more limited. It will offer fewer servers, slower speeds, and fewer features. In comparison, NordVPN, has more than 3,000 servers in 94 countries and is known for its high-speed connections. Unlike a free VPN, it won’t engage in bandwidth throttling so it’s far more suitable for bandwidth-intensive activities such as streaming, torrenting, and playing online games.
Not only do paid VPNs such as NordVPN provide far better performance, they also tend to be more secure than free VPNs. They’re able to invest further in their security with military-grade encryption and leak protection, for example. Free VPNs may lack essential security features such as a kill switch. Furthermore, free VPNs have to make money in other ways such as ads or even logging and selling your personal data.
Is a free trial better than a money-back guarantee?
In the case of NordVPN, the free trial is not better than the money-back guarantee for a few reasons. In particular, it’s only available on Android, whereas the money-back guarantee applies to all major operating systems. Furthermore, the free trial lasts just 7 days while the money-back guarantee is for 30 days. Although it’s a free trial, you still need to provide payment details and, if you forget to cancel, you’ll be charged for a subscription.
With the money-back guarantee, you have to pay upfront. On the plus side, both NordVPN’s free trial and money-back guarantee allow you to test the service in full. Some VPN free trials are limited in terms of the features they offer.
Can I get NordVPN free more than once?
According to NordVPN’s Terms of Service, “You can only get a refund for each of our Services under the Money Back Guarantee twice”. As such, you should be able to take advantage twice, even under the same email address.
In theory, you may be able to claim a refund via the money-back guarantee on more than two occasions but this would almost certainly require using a different email address and payment method. The same can be said for NordVPN’s 7-day free trial for Android. You can only realistically enjoy an app’s free trial more than once if you use a different email address and credit card.
Does the free trial include all NordVPN features?
Both the NordVPN 30-day money-back guarantee and the 7-day free trial include full access to all NordVPN features. In both cases, you just need to make sure you select the appropriate subscription tier, and you’ll then have access to all of that tier’s features for the duration of the free trial period, be it 7 days (Android only) or 30 days (all major operating systems).
Can I get a discount on a NordVPN subscription?
If you’re looking for a discount on your NordVPN subscription, you’re in luck. NordVPN often runs promotions, allowing you to save significantly on the price of a subscription (and even enjoy free extra months). What’s more, we provide VPN discount coupons, so you can get an even better deal. Simply visit our NordVPN review and click on “Get Deal” to take advantage of our NordVPN coupon.
Both the NordVPN 30-day money-back guarantee and the 7-day free trial include full access to all NordVPN features. In both cases, you just need to make sure you select the appropriate subscription tier, and you’ll then have access to all of that tier’s features for the duration of the free trial period, be it 7 days (Android only) or 30 days (all major operating systems).
