Is NordVPN legit? Its audits, owner, and ratings, checked
By Jean Luc Poitier, SEO and growth marketing strategist · NordVPN Reviews · Updated October 1, 2026
Yes. NordVPN is a real, established VPN from Nord Security, on the market since 2012. Its no-logs policy has passed six independent reviews, outside security firms test its apps, and PCMag and Forbes Advisor both rank it among the best VPNs. NordVPN averages 4.6 across 2.1 million ratings on four platforms.
See NordVPN pricingNordVPN's trust record at a glance
| NordVPN | |
|---|---|
| Owner | Nord Security (headquartered in Lithuania); sold by nordvpn S.A., Panama |
| On the market since | 2012 |
| No-logs reviews | Six: PwC Switzerland 2018 and 2020; Deloitte 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 |
| Security audits | Cure53 apps and infrastructure, 2022 and 2025 |
| Industry seal | VPN Trust Initiative Trust Seal |
| Expert awards | PCMag Editors' Choice (review updated April 2026); Forbes Advisor best VPN for most individuals and SMBs (August 2026) |
| Lab certification | AV-Comparatives Anti-Phishing Certification, June 2026 (96% blocked, no false alarms) |
| User ratings | Trustpilot 4.2 (50,763); App Store 4.7 (705,387); Google Play 4.6 (1,356,673) |
| Refund | 30 days on purchases from nordvpn.com |
Figures checked against each company's published pages and review-platform listings as of 2026-10-01. “Not published” means the company does not publish that figure.
Who is behind NordVPN
NordVPN was launched in 2012 and belongs to Nord Security, the company behind NordPass, NordLayer, and Saily, which merged with Surfshark in 2022. Nord Security says it is headquartered in Lithuania, and the VPN is sold by nordvpn S.A., registered in Panama. It raised $100 million in 2022 and another $100 million in 2023, the second round led by Warburg Pincus at a $3 billion valuation.
How NordVPN's no-logs claim was tested
A no-logs policy is only a promise until someone outside checks it. NordVPN has hired PwC Switzerland twice and Deloitte four times to review whether its systems match the policy. The 2025 engagement by Deloitte Lithuania was a reasonable-assurance review under the ISAE 3000 standard, finished in December 2025. Separately, the security firm Cure53 tested NordVPN's apps and infrastructure in 2025 and found no critical vulnerabilities. NordVPN is also a member of the VPN Trust Initiative and holds its Trust Seal.
What NordVPN users say
Across the four platforms we track, NordVPN averages 4.6 from 2.1 million ratings. Long-time users stand out in the written reviews:
“I´ve been using NordVPN for more than 5 years now and I would highly recommend it”Stuart A., Capterra, June 2025
“I’ve been using NordVPN to stream videos from overseas TV and streaming apps for over 10 years”Neil Bott, Trustpilot, September 2026
“I've rarely had a tech issue and when i do it is addressed immediately”Robert C., Capterra, February 2025
The common complaints are about billing rather than safety: renewals cost more than the first term, and refunds stop at 30 days. If that matters to you, read how to cancel NordVPN and get a refund before you buy, or browse all 95+ reviews.
Is NordVPN legit FAQ
Is NordVPN legit?+
Yes. NordVPN has run since 2012, is owned by Nord Security, and has had its no-logs policy checked six times by PwC and Deloitte. It averages 4.6 across 2.1 million ratings on Trustpilot, the App Store, Google Play, and Capterra.
Who owns NordVPN?+
Nord Security, which says it is headquartered in Lithuania and also owns Surfshark, NordPass, and NordLayer. The service is sold by nordvpn S.A., a company registered in Panama.
Does NordVPN keep logs?+
NordVPN says it does not log your online activity. Independent assurance engagements by PwC Switzerland (2018, 2020) and Deloitte (2022, 2023, 2024, 2025) reviewed that claim; the most recent was a reasonable-assurance engagement finished in December 2025. The full reports are available to logged-in NordVPN users.
Is NordVPN safe to use?+
Cure53 tested its apps and infrastructure in 2025 and found no critical vulnerabilities; NordVPN says the issues it did flag were fixed. Its servers run from RAM, and AV-Comparatives certified its anti-phishing protection in June 2026.
What do users complain about?+
Mostly billing: renewal prices are higher than the first term, and the refund window is 30 days. Our guide on how to cancel and get a refund covers both.