Is paying for a VPN worth it?

As noted above, VPN stands for Virtual Private Network, which means you are gaining exclusive access to an online network whenever you connect to the internet. By creating a safe ‘tunnel,' you’re able to go about your business without the worry of outside interference, knowing your personal details are securely hidden from prying eyes. 

This added layer of protection encodes the internet traffic so only your device and the server it is traveling to can understand it, thus making it incredibly useful for safety-conscious web surfers.

Because of the increased security and added privacy a VPN provides, using public Wi-Fi is a lot safer, which gives additional peace of mind to any web sceptics out there. (You can read more about what a VPN is here.)

People use them for various reasons, so it depends on what your personal needs are, but there are some common benefits everyone shares. Its primary function is to keep you safe while online, whether that’s by stopping third parties wanting to track you or offering pop-up ad blockers; the goal is to keep your activity private and your IP and personal information hidden. It allows you to conduct secure transactions and grants access to otherwise unreachable content if it's geo-restricted, meaning you can travel abroad and still log into your entertainment apps without any issues.

In truth, the positives far outweigh the negatives, with VPN users gaining a lot for a relatively small price. NordVPN is arguably the best on the market, offering a balance of quality, speed, service, and cost. Some of the upsides of a VPN are as follows.

✓ It makes your time online safe and secure.

✓ Your personal information is protected.

✓ You’re protected against bandwidth throttling (learn more about this here).

✓ No one, such as third parties (like advertisers), can track your movements.

✓ You can use streaming apps and watch content that's usually geo-restricted.

✓ You can continue to use streaming apps while travelling abroad without geo-restriction issues.

✓ Providers like NordVPN have excellent 24/7 customer service to help with troubleshooting.

✓ It keeps you safe from hackers.

✓ You can bypass website censorship when visiting or are based in authoritarian countries.

As with anything, there are always downsides, but the few listed for a VPN feel inconsequential.

✘ There's a cost, albeit a small one, each month. (A paid-for VPN service, rather than a free one, will offer a much better, more reliable product.)

✘ Opting for a full benefits package can be expensive for single-month usage.

✘ You’re not always protected against malware and viruses.

✘ It does slow your internet speed down fractionally, but not by much (more on that below).

✘ You're not always safe from pop-up ads (unless the provider includes an ads blocker).

While noted above that a VPN can have its drawbacks, NordVPN counteracts for many of the negative points addressed and, in some cases, doesn't even apply.

There is plenty of competition when selecting your VPNs, and NordVPN makes a strong case for being your top choice.

 ✓ NordVPN allows up to 10 simultaneous connections, with dedicated apps available on various devices, including iOS.

✓ NordVPN offers over 7,400 servers in over 118 locations, including the Americas, Africa, Asia-Pacific regions, and Europe, giving customers several flexible options.

✓ Because availability is so widespread, you’ll always have a fast server at your fingertips.

✓ It’s a four-times audited no-logs service, giving customers further peace of mind regarding their privacy.

✓ NordVPN offers 24/7 customer service, with a support team on hand to help.

✓ It uses AES (Advanced Encryption Standard), making your data as secure as it can possibly be.

✓ It provides specialty servers that increase user security and bypass various other restrictions.

✓ NordVPN uses Threat Protection Pro, which offers stronger security than standard VPN protection. A benefit is it’ll block ads and trackers.

Yes, it does - but only by a fraction. You won’t actually notice any change in your connectivity or speed, especially with NordVPN, which only has an 11% speed loss (compared to others on the market, which can be up to 49%). If you don’t know what the term 'speed loss' means, it’s where your overall internet speed decreases because you are, in essence, re-routing the information via a remote server.

The slowdown won't affect you, but different VPN providers offer various speeds and levels of quality, with NordVPN being the best out there. If you don’t believe us, check the numbers over the past few years here.

You can sign up for a single month or one and two-year plans across three tiered packages. As you can see, the longer you sign up, generally the cheaper it is, so the 2-year plan is most cost-effective in the long run.

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In one word, yes.

Considering the numerous advantages of using NordVPN, such as an overall secure internet experience, increased safety, and the ability to use your subscription services anywhere in the world without suffering from geo-restrictions, the small fee is vastly outweighed by the positives you gain, including their excellent customer service.

Not knowing how VPNs work can feel daunting, and it’s easy to dismiss signing up for something that offers little value. However, once you learn about the benefits and practicality of a VPN, it will suddenly feel like an essential purchase.

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