If you are looking for a comprehensive and honest review of NordVPN from an Australian user, you have come to the right place. In this article, I will share my real-world experience with NordVPN and cover various aspects such as streaming Netflix, torrenting, pricing, and speed in Australia, among other things.
By the end of this NordVPN review, you will have a clear idea of whether NordVPN is the right VPN service for you or not. So, let’s get started!
Quick NordVPN Review for Busy People
After extensively comparing different VPNs, I can confidently say that NordVPN is the best VPN for streaming American Netflix from Australia, along with its many other benefits.
This is primarily due to NordVPN’s extensive network of 5,200+ servers worldwide, which ensures a reliable and fast connection on multiple devices, including desktop, iOS, and Android.
For torrenting, NordVPN is an excellent choice due to its end-to-end encryption, which effectively hides your IP address. Overall, my experience with NordVPN has been excellent, and I highly recommend it.
- Access to American Netflix
- Exceptionally Fast Speeds
- Connect up to Six Devices
- Hides IP Address
- Strict No-Logging Policy
- Affordable Pricing
NordVPN Review for Australia in 2023
What does NordVPN offer?
To give you an overview of what NordVPN provides, here are some of its key features and benefits. For more information, I will delve into each of these aspects in more detail below.
- Access to American Netflix, Hulu, HBO GO, iTV, and other streaming platforms
- Exceptionally fast speeds in the US, UK, and Australia
- Compatibility with iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows operating systems
- Ability to connect up to six devices on one account
- Hides IP address while torrenting
- Strict no-logging policy (NordVPN does not track users like ISPs)
- Based in Panama with robust privacy laws
- Utilizes AES-256-GCM encryption, double VPN, and kill switches for maximum security
- Over 6,200 server locations worldwide
- Can be used overseas and in China
- Affordable pricing with a 63% discounted price
NordVPN for Streaming American Netflix and More
One of the biggest advantages of using a VPN is that it allows Australians to access geo-blocked content. Unfortunately, there is a ton of content that Aussies are missing out on. For instance, American Netflix offers over 4,500 titles compared to Australia’s 1,500. NordVPN is an excellent choice for accessing streaming services like American Netflix, Hulu, iTV, and HBO GO, as I have personally experienced.
After signing up, I installed the desktop app onto my MacBook and iPhone, which connected my entire computer and all browsers. I chose a location that masked my IP address, allowing me to stream geo-blocked content without any issues. NordVPN has more than 5,200 servers, which automatically connect to the best performing servers in any given region. Additionally, if a server is performing slowly or gets blocked, NordVPN will simply reroute me to the next best one. From my experience, NordVPN delivers a seamless experience for streaming geo-blocked content, making it the best choice. Check out my step-by-step guide on how to get started with NordVPN here.
NordVPN Speeds from Australia
NordVPN is great at bypassing geo-blocked content, but how does it perform when streaming and torrenting? In short, NordVPN speeds are incredibly fast, akin to Usain Bolt’s speed.
To demonstrate NordVPN’s speed, I conducted three speed tests with NordVPN active to compare its performance against the competition. These tests were conducted in Australia, America, and the United Kingdom.
For a base speed test, I initially tested my normal speeds in Australia without a VPN activated to establish my typical speeds.
Note: I used the Google Speed Test tool and am on a Telstra NBN connection tested from Melbourne.
Test 1: Base speed test from my internet provider (NordVPN is turned off)
Test 2: Speeds when connected to Australian NordVPN servers
Test 3: Speeds when connected to American NordVPN servers
Test 4: Speeds when connected to British NordVPN servers
As seen in the above speed tests, NordVPN’s performance is staggering. Even when I was receiving half of my regular speeds on NordVPN Australian and US servers, the download speeds were still capable of connecting multiple devices at once.
The only area where NordVPN didn’t keep up was when testing from the UK. Although 12Mbps is a respectable speed, it’s worth noting if you plan on streaming from the UK for BBC, iTV.
Overall, NordVPN is a clear winner when it comes to speed.
NordVPN: Compatible with Almost All Devices and Platforms
When I first subscribed to NordVPN, I was initially unsure how well the desktop app would function on my macOS computer. Additionally, I was quite sceptical about the iPhone app and whether it would work due to Apple’s stringent policies regarding what is allowed on their devices.
To my relief, the desktop app was impressive, seamlessly connecting my entire computer, including all browsers. This is a marked improvement over the older system where individual browser extensions and plugins had to be installed.
Surprisingly, the NordVPN app is also compatible with my iPhone X, allowing me to connect to NordVPN servers via the free app and stream American Netflix on my phone while hiding my IP address.
NordVPN is compatible with a broad range of devices and operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linus, iOS, Android, Windows Phones, Apple TV, Kodi, Firestick, Raspberry Pi, Google Chromecast, Firefox, Google Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge, Internet Explorer, and Tor Browser. Regrettably, NordVPN does not cover the Opera or Brave browsers, but these are rarely used.
Number of Devices That Can Be Connected to NordVPN
In addition to its compatibility with nearly every device and platform, NordVPN also allows up to six devices to connect on one account. Initially, I thought this feature would not be necessary. However, as my device collection grew, I installed NordVPN on my iPad, iPhone, MacBook Pro, and Apple TV (yes, I am a big fan of Apple products!). I even connected a few of my family members’ computers, allowing them to access over 4,500 US Netflix titles.
If you have multiple devices and want to ensure that they are all connected, NordVPN is an excellent choice.
NordVPN for Torrenting
VPN services are popular for bypassing geo-blocked content, but they are also useful for maintaining your IP address’s privacy when using torrent managers such as BitTorrent and uTorrent.
Despite accessing piracy websites like Piratebay now being illegal in Australia, they remain more popular than ever before.
So, how does NordVPN perform when torrenting from Australia? According to my research, it performs extremely well. Once connected to Australian servers, a user’s IP address is replaced with another address that cannot be traced back to the user, and speeds are also impressive.
NordVPN’s No-Logging Policy
When it comes to torrenting and online privacy, NordVPN is a top contender thanks to its strict no-logging policy. This means that while you’re connected to NordVPN’s servers, none of your online activities are stored or tracked whatsoever.
This zero-logging policy extends to your browsing history, timestamps, and bandwidth usage, which are typically monitored and recorded by your Internet Service Provider (ISP). With NordVPN, you can rest assured that your online data remains private and secure from the prying eyes of the Five Eyes alliance, of which Australia is a member.
NordVPN’s Jurisdiction
In my review of NordVPN in Australia, I also delved into the company’s location. While a VPN’s no-logging policy is crucial, it’s equally important to consider where the VPN provider is headquartered. This is because governing bodies in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada can subpoena your ISP to access your online data.
To protect against such snooping, VPN providers often establish their company headquarters in countries that are beyond the reach of these countries’ governments. For NordVPN, its offices are located in Panama, which effectively places it out of reach of the aforementioned countries.
This extra layer of privacy protection highlights NordVPN’s commitment to safeguarding its users’ online data.
NordVPN’s Encryption Capabilities
Like many other VPN services, NordVPN touts its “military-grade AES-256-GCM encryption algorithm.” However, upon closer inspection, this claim may not be as impressive as it seems.
Since 2016, Google has been transitioning websites from HTTP to HTTPS, which uses the same AES-256-GCM encryption that NordVPN offers. This means that regardless of which website you visit, your connection and data are likely already encrypted with this military-grade standard.
That being said, NordVPN does offer a unique feature called Double VPN, also known as a Tunnel VPN. This involves adding an extra layer of security by creating a connection on top of another connection. Keep in mind that this option may result in slower speeds, though the added security and privacy may be worth it for some users.
NordVPN Australian Servers
NordVPN offers over 5,200 servers across 62 countries, including servers in China to bypass the country’s firewall. In Australia, NordVPN boasts a whopping 92 servers spread across major cities such as Sydney, Brisbane, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Canberra, with Darwin soon to be added. This wide coverage allows users to connect to servers in their specific cities and avoid overloaded servers, resulting in faster speeds even during peak times.
Using NordVPN Overseas
If you frequently travel overseas, using NordVPN can be a game-changer. When faced with restricted access to sites like YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram during a recent trip to Bali and China, I was able to bypass these restrictions by setting my IP location to Australia, which connected within seconds. I was also able to access Australian streaming services such as Kayo Sports, Foxtel GO, HayU, SBS, ABC, 9Now and more.
NordVPN Pricing for Australians
NordVPN offers excellent value for money, with prices starting at $3.49 per month when paid upfront for their 3-year plan. This plan, which comes to a total of $125.64, is charged every three years. The pricing is in USD, but when converted to AUD, it is around $180AUD. Compared to ExpressVPN, which charges $8 per month USD for their yearly package, NordVPN is an affordable option. For users who prefer not to sign up for a 3-year plan, NordVPN also offers monthly, 1 year, and 2 year plans.
NordVPN Customer Support
Customer support is available through live chat and help forums, which is common amongst VPN services. While some users may find the lack of support options to be a negative, NordVPN is easy and intuitive to use. Additionally, there are plenty of YouTube videos available to assist users with connecting to a specific region and fixing connection issues.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, NordVPN is an excellent VPN option for Australians, offering extensive server coverage across major cities in Australia, affordable pricing plans, and reliable customer support. With NordVPN, users can easily bypass geographical restrictions and access a wide range of streaming services from anywhere in the world.