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Updated July 2026 · real, multi-region App Store reviews
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Is it worth paying for

NordVPN

65
Value score / 100 Worth paying? Depends It depends

NordVPN is a reliable VPN service that offers good protection and speed for many users, but frequent connectivity issues, slowdowns, and frustrating UI/UX choices make its value questionable for others.

Free to download seen up to $104.89 4.7★ lifetime (687,059) since 2014

NordVPN generally provides fast and reliable service with many server choices, making users feel secure online R4R7R30. However, a significant number of users report frequent disconnections, internet slowdowns, and issues accessing certain websites or services, which diminishes its value despite its reputation R3R5R19. The app's UI/UX also receives criticism for making basic functions difficult and for aggressive cross-selling .

Free vs paid

The reviews indicate that NordVPN is a paid service, with users discussing subscriptions for a year or three years R2R3. There is no mention of a free tier, though one review mistakenly claims it works well and is free . Users who want to use the VPN must pay for it R37.

Value complaints

  • Many users report that the service stops working or is unreliable despite having paid for a subscription, leading to wasted money.R2R3R9R10
  • Users express frustration over difficulty cancelling subscriptions or getting refunds, especially when purchased through the App Store.R44R52R59R62
  • Some find the renewal prices too high.R418
  • The app is not free, despite some misleading advertising or user expectations.R37R472

Where it delivers

  • Many users find NordVPN to be fast, reliable, and effective at providing protection and hiding IP addresses.R4R7R14R25
  • The app is considered beginner-friendly and easy to use for many, simplifying the process of setting up a VPN.R13R30R87
  • Users appreciate the wide selection of server choices and the ability to access content internationally.R7R35
  • Some users have experienced good customer service and positive UI updates.R46R47R274
Worth paying if

It is worth paying for NordVPN if you prioritize ease of use and consistent protection, as many users find it effective and beginner-friendly R13R14R30R87. It is also suitable for those who need a wide selection of servers and generally good speeds R7.

Skip / stay free if

You should skip NordVPN if you frequently travel to countries like China or Mexico, as many users report it not working reliably or at all in these regions R2R10R23R212. Also skip if you are sensitive to internet slowdowns, frequent disconnections, or an app that blocks access to legitimate websites and services, as these are common complaints R3R5R19.

Evidence note: The reviews show a significant split between highly satisfied long-term users and frustrated recent users experiencing connectivity and functionality issues. The lifetime rating is high, but many recent reviews are negative, indicating a potential decline in service quality.

Frequently asked

Does NordVPN work in China?
NordVPN generally does not work in China, with multiple users reporting inability to connect or use the service there, unless using international roaming data R10R23R212R338.
Does NordVPN slow down internet speed?
Yes, many users report that NordVPN significantly slows down their internet and WiFi connections, with speeds dropping from hundreds to tens of Mbps for some R5R19R48R93.
Are there issues with NordVPN disconnecting frequently?
Yes, a common complaint among users is that NordVPN frequently disconnects, requiring constant manual reconnection or disabling of the auto-connect feature R8R95R96R105.
Can NordVPN block access to legitimate websites or apps?
Yes, users frequently report that NordVPN blocks access to legitimate websites, apps, and services, including banking apps, security cameras, and streaming platforms like YouTube TV and Amazon Prime R11R18R20R24.

What reviewers actually said

Built only from these 120 real reviews (foreign ones translated). Superscripts jump to the quote here. Apple has no per-review links, so [ref] opens that app's reviews on the App Store.

  1. [R2] 1/5 · US It stops connecting when I’m in MX: It stops working when I’m traveling to MX for work. Not reliable, I have to actually delete the app and connect. Not reliable and already purchased the service for a year.
  2. [R3] 1/5 · US Never works: Any time I have an internet issue with no connectivity, all I need to do is disable Nord VPN and then everything works. Wish I hadn’t bought 3 year subscription……
  3. [R9] 1/5 · US VPN issue: It takes a long time to connect and dedicate vpn is not functioning, it’s waste money.
  4. [R10] 1/5 · US DON’T buy. Doesn't work.: I've tried for 7 days. Los Angeles, Tokyo, Boston, Billings, Seattle, Seoul, UK, even Africa, what I do all day is switch the locations, and none of them work. This app is a scam. DON’T spend one cent. Waste of money, time and patience. I’m from China, I’ll sue this company if I’m in the U.S.
  5. [R44] 1/5 · US Refund: I only wanted to try your app out before I was charged a whole year of service when I wasn’t sure if I’d be using it in the next month. I filed my complaint with support. I haven’t heard/read from them.
  6. [R52] 1/5 · US Apple will not refund you: Despite having a 30 day satisfaction guarantee, if you buy nordvpn thru appstore, apple will not give back your money under any circumstance. Just buy the vpn from the actual site and they probably will honor the refund. Apple will just steal your money.
  7. [R59] 1/5 · US How: I’ve deleted the app and it doesn’t show up in my subscriptions so why is it still charging my card
  8. [R62] 2/5 · US Worked in China, but uses shady tactics to make cancelling difficult: NordVPN is an excellent VPN that worked for me in China. However, they hide the ability to cancel your subscription in the app, on their site, and I had to go through Apple subscriptions in the browser to cancel. It was frustrating and difficult and they 100% know what they’re doing and they hope it gets you to keep paying for i
  9. [R418] 3/5 · GB Mr: Prices far to high for renewals
  10. [R37] 4/5 · US Good but has a tiny issue: To use a VPN, it has to be paid which to be honest isn’t really a great idea especially when money is more common with the mind of companies. I feel like it would be good if it was free but it is what it is.
  11. [R472] 3/5 · GB Usual misinformation: I have no doubt about the usefulness and security of the product, however, as usual the advertising is misleading as most companies do these days. All the companies have secured the internet advertising to ensure prime placement of their products but a search for ‘free VPN’ produces claims of ‘free apps’ that are, in reality only free to download. It would be far more honest
  12. [R4] 5/5 · US Best VPN: Fast and reliable
  13. [R7] 5/5 · US Great service: Been using Nord for many years and overall I love it. Lots of server choices and speeds are generally good.
  14. [R14] 5/5 · US Easy to use: Really effective and reliable, easy to use
  15. [R25] 5/5 · US Beautiful Nord: How can I thank you enough for all the protection that you provided me throughout the past few years. It’s 2026 and you can’t trust anybody anymore but with you at least I know they can’t find me. Love you! Quantum who?
  16. [R13] 5/5 · US Very begginer friendly: Big fan of the ease of use and simplicity/effectiveness. If you don’t want to go through the hassle with testing out a bunch of vpns; this one WILL work!
  17. [R30] 5/5 · US I’m no IT guy….: I’m not sure if I can explain this but bc it was so simple to set this VPN up, and like everyone I did so bc I had concerns about my exposure online, I feel safer. I prefer to err on the side of caution and for short money, along with the value based on their reputation, I feel as though I am getting my desired protection on multiple devices.
  18. [R87] 5/5 · US Excellent, Very Easy to Use: I rarely write reviews of apps, but I’m taking the time to do one here because I have been so impressed with the ease of use of Nord VPN across all of my devices. Pausing the VPN connection when it’s blocking access to a website, and the interface is as straightforward as it gets. 10/10
  19. [R35] 5/5 · US Great: I signed up for one month and it works great. I’m a news junkie and need my YouTube TV internationally. I made an error complaining about the bill because of the bundling of charges Apple does for app purchases. Everything is great now.
  20. [R46] 5/5 · US It’s good: Edit: they changed the UI, so I feel obligated to update this review. I’m also taking full credit for this change regardless if it played any part in it or not. Overall it’s genuinely a solid vpn service and I have no complaints about how it works., Why would you remove a button to disconnect from the vpn in one click? Now you have to click on pause and the last option lets you to di
  21. [R47] 4/5 · US Finally: This 9.8.0 version finally gives you a single button to disconnect and reconnect. Thank you for listening.
  22. [R274] 3/5 · GB Keeps blocking sites: Don’t know why nor does it provide any clues as to why it keeps blocking some of my Apps especially ones related to my security cameras. Gave up in the end and deleted it. UPDATE: following response from NordVpn Support, changed protocol in settings and my cameras now seem to work. Thanks.
  23. [R23] 1/5 · US Cannot connect in China, and there's no warning during top-up: "Definitely do not buy." · translated
  24. [R212] 3/5 · US China: Does with internet connection in China except if you are using international roaming data on the US phone
  25. [R338] 3/5 · GB It cannot be used in some areas.: It can't be used in China
  26. [R5] 4/5 · US VPN - Not all Great: I assume the VPN is doing its job. However, two negatives, first the VPN sucks your power from your iPhone. I notice about a 25% increase in power consumption. Second, internet connections can slow down considerably and maybe not even connect. So having a VPN is nice, but there are trade offs. I assume this is true for all VPNs, though I do not know for sure.
  27. [R19] 1/5 · US Slows down my WiFi connection: Nord VPN slows down my WiFi so bad at times I can’t even use it. I’ve had to disconnect it many times so I could use WiFi on my phone. I’ve switched to different locations, but it doesn’t really make much of a difference! My speeds go from almost 200 down to 15-20! Really considering just removing it from my tv and everything else, because it may be helpful at pr
  28. [R48] 2/5 · US Slows internet: NordVPN slows internet speed to 50%.
  29. [R93] 4/5 · US Report a speed problem: Stable than ever without logging out automatically, but the speed of operation of cell phone and cyber speed is much slower than before. Hope it will recover the usual speed. Continue to support Nord VPN.
  30. [R8] 1/5 · US Auto-connect randomly will become disabled. This bug has existed for over a year.: I *never* manually disable the Auto-Connect feature in Nord. I rely on VPN connectivity 100% of the time. But I’ve grown accustomed to periodically (that is, almost every day) checking the setting to ensure it stays set to “Always” because somehow this setting turns itself off randomly. I have done everything from l
  31. [R95] 3/5 · US A lot of drops: I think every day my service dropped and I have to reconnect and I live in Northern Virginia so it’s not a matter of service availability was to strength of signal. I figured that’s what you get in general from any of them so I never switched but maybe next time it comes up I will try somebody else.
  32. [R96] 3/5 · US App sudden disconnects: It is annoying to be working and for the VPN to disconnect and request to login again. It is happening too often now. Disappointing.
  33. [R105] 3/5 · US Always connect fails: I’m frustrated with constant disconnection. My essential apps fail. Too much to deal with satisfactorily.
  34. [R11] 3/5 · US Apple Android Woes: I can't text any friends that have Android phones and cannot receive texts from them either. I only use VPN when using unfamiliar WiFi or traveling overseas.
  35. [R18] 1/5 · US Did not work in the Philippines.: I pay for Paramount+. I tried to use NordVPN to watch the UFC on Paramount. Did not work in the Philippines.
  36. [R20] 1/5 · US Keeps blocking internet when paused: I’m unable to access the Internet when my connection is paused
  37. [R24] 2/5 · US Doesn’t work with AppleTV: Doesn’t work with AppleTV, AppleTV detects it and doesn’t allow to play live programming. Might good as VPN.

Synthesized from 120 recent App Store reviews · updated July 2026 · View on the App Store