'I tried NordVPN for weeks - and I didn't realise I needed a VPN until now'

VPNs have hit the mainstream media in a way that I never thought I would ever see. Ever since the launch of the Online Safety Act VPN usage has soared, with many people opting to buy one or consider buying one.

As someone who has used them in the past, I decided to see whether using a VPN would impact my browsing habits and how much of a difference it actually makes. In comes NordVPN, a highly reputable VPN service that has been running for years. It touts itself as 'the best' VPN around for Brits and prides itself on offering a free and open internet.

But is a VPN actually worth it and what do customers get for the money that they pay? I tried NordVPN for almost a month - and I realised just how beneficial it was.

Pros

• Extremely fast connections with more than 165+ locations to connect to from around the world
• Super speedy app on platforms like Windows, iPhone, Android, Mac and many more
• Ability to get cheaper items, flights and more through NordVPN
• Low monthly price and tons of freebies when you upgrade to Nord's premium package including a password manager
• Values privacy and keeps no logs on customers
• 30-day money-back guarantee
• Threat protection to protect users from malicious websites

Cons

• More expensive when compared to other VPNs
• Pricing can be confusing for those first getting into VPNs
• Some features are locked behind a more expensive package like cloud storage and a password manager

I came to this review with the mindset of someone using a VPN for the first time - like many people reading this - wondering whether a VPN would actually help. Well, it turns out I've saved money and actually realised just how useful a VPN is, like having a Swiss Army knife in your pocket - or on your computer/phone in this case.

Downloading NordVPN on my PC and my phone was a breeze. One of the best things about Nord is how sleek, fast, and quick the app is. After logging in with my credentials, it instantly asked me if I wanted to connect to any country—no messing about, so I decided to jump straight on it.

On my PC, the connection was instantaneous and I almost didn't really notice it until Windows notified me. One thing I was worried about was how it would affect my download speeds.

Testing the VPN throughout the past few weeks on standard internet browsing felt no different whatsoever, especially when I was watching YouTube videos and streams on Twitch. I also even tried gaming on NordVPN.

VPNs can be super useful while gaming to protect from DDoS attacks, and I was pretty impressed with how little it made a difference. However, I did encounter some packet loss when playing CounterStrike 2 and a few online games at times.

Let's talk about how VPNs can actually be beneficial. For many people who value privacy, a paid-for VPN like NordVPN is a must and everything that I streamed, watched and played during that time was protected thanks to Nord's no logs policy and high privacy guidelines.

Not only that, during my time using NordVPN, I managed to get some subscriptions I would normally pay far more for, much cheaper, just by connecting to another country. VPNs like Nord can also help Brits get cheaper flights and other items online by connecting to other countries, as well as watch other programmes like BBC iPlayer while in another country.

Getting onto the subject of streaming services, I also used NordVPN for Netflix to see if I would be blocked and could access other shows and films. Netflix has been cracking down on VPNs recently, making it harder to access it when using one - but Nord managed to breeze past this with super-fast speeds with no issues at all.

It also unblocked other websites in a breeze without any hitches or slowdowns in the slightest. If people reading this and thinking 'this sounds great', there are a few things to consider.

Despite NordVPN being great, it isn't cheap. Its two-year plans start from £3.89 a month—or £46.68, which can seem expensive for a VPN, especially with free VPNs out there. It can also be a bit confusing with the pricing on the two-year plans so make sure buyers read the pricing breakdown before buying it.

However, for those thinking of investing in VPN, it's important to get a premium VPN that actually works with some free VPNs offering sub-par performance and in some cases, don't even work. NordVPN also offers extras like password managers, cloud storage and other freebies with more premium plans - but be prepared to cough up.

Also for those getting into VPNs, pricing can seem a bit confusing but NordVPN does offer money-back guarantees and great customer service as well. One important thing to note is that there are plenty of alternatives to choose from as well.

ExpressVPN is another competitor to Nord that also has great reviews and is a premium VPN on the market. Prices start at £3.39 a month (when converted from US dollars), slightly cheaper than Nord.

Or, there's CyberGhostVPN which also offers its VPN service for little under £2 a month for those perhaps not wanting to spend as much. This is a good option for those wanting to spend less.

As someone who has dabbled but not really got into VPN usage before, NordVPN has converted me into using it as a daily addition to my browsing. In addition to the privacy benefits and cost benefits that NordVPN provides, getting a premium VPN like Nord is a no-brainer.

I've saved money, gained access and unblocked streaming services from other countries without a hitch, and, best of all, experienced little to no slowdown during most of it. And best of all, I can be confident that my privacy is being protected while browsing and using the internet.

NordVPN has been a pleasure to use - and for many people considering grabbing one, I would recommend NordVPN without hesitiation. However, buying a VPN like Nord can be expensive and there are cheaper options out there like we've mentioned.