Before we move to the point, let’s just clear what is the purpose of VPN and what it actually is.
What is VPN?
VPN refers to a Virtual Private Network that is a technology to create a single private network of users located in different geographical locations over the internet. In other words, VPN is just a network within the internet but it is private, secure and encrypted. VPN uses different tunnelling protocols to operate and features from different VPN providers may vary but the basics remain the same.
NordVPN for Android
The NordVPN Android client has had a facelift since I last reviewed it. Now it is more suitable for mobile devices, with practical buttons at the bottom to access important parts of the application. The large raised centre button puts you online quickly and with a limit of fuss.
NordVPN has taken great pains to provide a familiar experience on all the devices that the company supports, but each client adjusts to work better on each platform. In Android, for example, you can still access the excellent specialized servers of the company from the hidden tray.
But you can verify your service and activate and deactivate the VPN from the notification tray, which is always accessible.
NordVPN obtained excellent scores in my latency tests, where it ranked second. It was the fourth in download speed, which still places him at the best average in this important category. I had the second-best score for upload speeds, which is always a difficult category. In general, you do not have to worry about speed problems when using NordVPN on Android. NordVPN is also a publisher’s choice for Android VPNs.
iPhone NordVPN
Even on iPhone or iPad, all functions are very familiar to users of other NordVPN products. NordVPN for smartphones continues to excel. And providing an excellent tradition of the same user experience on all compatible platforms for any company.
Unfortunately, the iOS version does not have some of the useful options found in the Android edition. Due to the peculiarities of iOS, but the application feels very comfortable on the platform. NordVPN also brings its Kill Switch and Smart Reconnect function, which is very welcome.
NordVPN application
The NordVPN application also has excellent speed test results in iOS. The best latency score and a strong load score were accumulated, with a comparably weak performance for download speeds. But he still achieved the best overall performance among the iPhone VPNs, and also gets an Editor’s Choice for VPN for iPhone.
NordVPN for Macs
As with Android, there are some elements that make the MacOS client for NordVPN feel right at home on a Mac. The main sight is the charming, familiar monochrome blue map, with its cartoon and submarine ships. But the hidden tray moves with a skill typical of excellent macOS applications. Click the magnifying glass in the upper right corner to search for the available servers.
The main page is deleted. These are small adjustments, but most VPN services do not take the effort to optimize their clients.
NordVPN Complain
My only complaint with the Mac application is that NordVPN’s excellent specialized servers are too hard to find through the Mac client interface. You should apply special filters to the entire list or look at the small links at the bottom of the page search, In my opinion, these should be front and center for the user to discover. I would also like to be able to select different VPN protocols, but, on the other hand, NordVPN already uses my preferred option, OpenVPN.
Unfortunately, NordVPN did not accumulate excellent scores on speed tests on macOS. Its latency results were unsatisfactory, and the most important download test was not excellent on the national VPN servers and, in fact, it was worse than expected on the international servers. It had equally faded results in the load speed test. All this said speed should not be the main consideration of most users when buying a VPN.
NordVPN’s features and overall experience far outweigh any speed results, and NordVPN is one of our favourite free VPN clients for the Mac.
Star VPN
Too often, security tools are a difficult task to use because they place technical excellence on the user experience. But in my experience, any average person would rather risk having no protection than dealing with frustrating security software.
NordVPN intelligently presents a simple face but does not skimp on a powerful central service. It has the usual collection of features, but specialized servers for Tor-Over-VPN and double encryption. Also, they have other outstanding features of the service.
Continuous server updates place it among the most robust VPN services available, and the adblocking. Also, the network protection feature further enhances the capabilities of NordVPN. Taken together, these factors are more than enough to justify their comparatively high monthly cost.
