Why We Finally Switched to NordVPN (After Being Skeptical)
We resisted getting a VPN for years, thinking they were overhyped. After a scary incident on public WiFi and months of research, we tried NordVPN. Here's our honest experience and why we're actually keeping it.
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We'll Be Honest - We Thought VPNs Were Overrated
For the longest time, we rolled our eyes at VPN ads. "Do we really need this?" we thought. We weren't doing anything illegal online, we weren't journalists in a dangerous country, and we definitely weren't tech-savvy enough to care about "encryption protocols."
VPNs seemed like something for either paranoid people or tech nerds. Not for regular folks like us.
Then something happened that changed our minds completely.
The Wake-Up Call: Airport WiFi Horror Story
We were waiting for a delayed flight at the airport, casually checking our bank account on the free WiFi. A few days later, we got an alert about a suspicious login attempt on our account from another state.
Our hearts dropped.
Luckily, our bank's security caught it, but it shook us. We realized how careless we'd been. Every coffee shop, airport, hotel - we'd been connecting to public WiFi without a second thought, basically leaving our digital door wide open.
That's when we started actually researching VPNs seriously.
Why We Were Skeptical About VPNs (And Maybe You Are Too)
Before we dive into why we chose NordVPN, let's address the doubts we had:
"Aren't they all the same?"
Nope. We learned the hard way that free VPNs are often worse than no VPN - they sell your data or are unbearably slow.
"Will it slow down our internet?"
This was our biggest concern. We already dealt with buffering issues. The last thing we needed was MORE slowdown.
"It's probably complicated to set up."
We're not technical. If it required command lines or complex configurations, we were out.
"Are they actually secure, or is it marketing?"
Fair question. Many VPNs make big security claims but have sketchy privacy policies.
Why We Finally Chose NordVPN
After comparing about a dozen VPNs (yes, we went down a rabbit hole), NordVPN kept coming up. Here's what sold us:
1. The Speed Actually Surprised Us
We tested the connection with and without NordVPN. Honestly? We barely noticed a difference in our daily browsing. Streaming Netflix, video calls, even gaming - all worked smoothly.
They have over 8,000 servers worldwide, and we could always find a fast one nearby. When we connected to servers in our own country, the speed loss was maybe 5-10%. Totally manageable.
2. It's Genuinely Easy to Use
We downloaded the app, logged in, and hit "Quick Connect." That's it. It automatically chose the best server for us. Our grandma could use this thing (and honestly, we're thinking of setting her up with it too).
The interface is clean - no overwhelming tech jargon. Just a big button that says "Connected" or "Disconnected." Perfect for someone like us.
3. The Security Features We Didn't Know We Needed
Here's where NordVPN won us over from the competition:
Threat Protection Pro: This blocks ads, malware, and trackers automatically. We didn't even know VPNs could do this. It's like having built-in antivirus protection.
Kill Switch: If the VPN connection drops for any reason, it automatically cuts your internet so you don't accidentally expose your data. Genius.
No-logs policy: They've been audited multiple times by independent firms. They genuinely don't track or store what you do online.
Post-quantum encryption: Future-proofing against the next generation of cyber threats.
4. It Actually Unlocked Content (A Pleasant Bonus)
We'll be honest - security was our main concern, but being able to watch shows that aren't available in our region? That's a nice perk.
When we traveled to Europe last month, we could still access our usual streaming services. No more "this content isn't available in your region" messages.
5. We're Actually Saving Money With It (This Blew Our Minds)
Here's something we didn't expect: NordVPN has already paid for itself several times over.
We discovered that many online services show different prices depending on your location. By connecting to servers in different countries, we've found significantly better deals on everyday purchases:
Streaming subscriptions: We found YouTube Premium for nearly 40% less by connecting through certain regions. Same with Spotify and other services.
Flight bookings: Airlines often show different prices based on your location. We've saved hundreds on flights by comparing prices through different VPN server locations before booking.
Software and apps: Many software subscriptions (including cloud storage, productivity tools, and games) have regional pricing. We've consistently found better deals.
Online shopping: Some e-commerce sites adjust prices based on location. We now routinely check prices through different servers before making larger purchases.
Just last month, we saved over $80 on a flight by checking prices through a VPN server in a different country. That alone covered our VPN subscription for the entire year.
Pro tip: Always clear your cookies and browsing data when price shopping through different locations for the most accurate results.
6. The Price Was Actually Reasonable
We almost didn't include this because we hate when blog posts feel like sales pitches, but the cost genuinely surprised us. We went with the 2-year plan at around $3/month. That's less than our monthly coffee budget.
For the peace of mind - especially when we're traveling or working from cafes - it's completely worth it. Check out current NordVPN pricing here.
What We Wish We'd Known Before
The app works on 10 devices simultaneously. We have it on our laptops, phones, tablets, and even set it up on our router to protect our smart home devices. One subscription covers everything.
Customer support is actually helpful. We had a question about which server to use for streaming, and their 24/7 chat got back to us in under 2 minutes with a helpful answer. No runaround.
The new NordWhisper protocol is a game-changer. This disguises VPN traffic as regular browsing, which is especially useful in places with restrictive internet policies or for bypassing network blocks.
Bonus: NordPass for password management. Since we were already in the Nord ecosystem, we also tried NordPass for secure password management. It integrates seamlessly and keeps all our login credentials encrypted and easily accessible across devices. Worth considering if you're looking for a complete security solution.
Is It Perfect? Let's Be Real
No product is perfect. Here are our honest critiques:
The iOS app is slightly less feature-rich than the desktop version. Not a dealbreaker, but noticeable.
Can't pay with PayPal in some regions. They do accept cryptocurrency if you want maximum privacy, though.
Initial connection can take 5-10 seconds. Minor, but worth mentioning.
These are small issues that don't outweigh the benefits for us.
The Bottom Line: Would We Recommend It?
Yes - especially if you're like we were: skeptical but curious.
NordVPN isn't perfect, but it's the best balance we've found between security, speed, ease of use, and price.
You should get it if:
You use public WiFi regularly
You travel frequently
You care about online privacy (even a little)
You want to access content from different regions
You're tired of ads and trackers following you everywhere
You want to save money on subscriptions, flights, and online purchases
You might skip it if:
You literally never leave your home network
You have zero concerns about privacy
You need advanced customization for specific use cases
Our Final Thought
We put off getting a VPN for years because we thought it was unnecessary. Looking back, that was naive. We do everything online now - banking, shopping, personal conversations, work. Protecting that with a VPN isn't paranoid. It's just smart.
If you're on the fence like we were, NordVPN has a 30-day money-back guarantee. Try it out. Test the speed, see if it fits your workflow. If it doesn't work for you, get your money back. But we think you'll be surprised - like we were.
Ready to give it a try? Check out NordVPN's current deals here - they frequently run promotions that make the already-reasonable price even better. With a 30-day money-back guarantee, you've got nothing to lose.
Looking for complete security? Pair it with NordPass to manage all your passwords securely in one place.
Have questions about our experience? Drop them in the comments below!