Most VPN reviews are written by people who've never actually used the damn things. They'll tell you 'all VPNs are basically the same' while ignoring that NordVPN's Meshnet feature saved my ass when my home server died during a client presentation. Let's cut the crap.
The Interface That Makes You Want to Scream
NordVPN's desktop app has this stupid animated globe that spins when you connect. It looks cool for about 5 seconds, then you realize it's eating CPU cycles for absolutely no reason. I've got a Ryzen 9 system that shouldn't stutter when clicking a VPN button, but here we are. Meanwhile, ExpressVPN's interface is so sterile it feels like hospital software - functional but soul-crushing.
Where Your Money Actually Goes
NordVPN costs more than Surfshark or ProtonVPN, but here's why: their Threat Protection actually blocks malware domains in real-time. I was testing sketchy torrent sites for a security audit and NordVPN blocked three separate drive-by download attempts while Surfshark just... let them through. ProtonVPN's 'NetShield' does similar blocking but slows your connection to a crawl when enabled.
💡 Pro Tip: Turn off 'Auto-connect' in NordVPN's settings. The feature is overly aggressive and will connect you to servers based on 'optimal load' rather than your actual location needs. I got routed through Australia while trying to access my UK banking app because of this 'smart' feature.
The RAM Hog That Justifies It
NordVPN's desktop app uses about 300MB of RAM at idle - that's double what ExpressVPN uses. But here's the dirty secret: that extra RAM is caching DNS requests and maintaining your Meshnet connections. When I needed to access files from my home PC while stranded at an airport with terrible WiFi, NordVPN's RAM usage meant the connection actually held. Surfshark's lighter app would have dropped the connection three times during that same 2-hour wait.
| Feature | NordVPN Privacy | ExpressVPN | Surfshark | ProtonVPN |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Price | $12.99 | $12.95 | $12.95 | $9.99 |
| Simultaneous Connections | 10 devices | 8 devices | Unlimited | 10 devices |
| RAM Usage (Desktop) | ~300MB | ~150MB | ~200MB | ~250MB |
| Special Features | Meshnet, Threat Protection | Lightway Protocol | CleanWeb, Whitelister | NetShield, Secure Core |
| Server Count | 6,000+ | 3,000+ | 3,200+ | 4,000+ |
The Verdict: Who Should Actually Buy This
Buy NordVPN Privacy if: You need to access home/office resources remotely (Meshnet is killer), you regularly visit sketchy websites (Threat Protection works), or you're willing to pay extra for features that actually function when stressed. I've had NordVPN maintain connections through hotel WiFi that made ExpressVPN and Surfshark completely unusable.
Avoid NordVPN if: You're on a tight budget (Surfshark is cheaper), you only need basic browsing protection (ProtonVPN's free tier works fine), or you're obsessed with minimal RAM usage (ExpressVPN wins here). Just don't complain when your 'lightweight' VPN drops your video call during that important meeting.
The truth is most people don't need NordVPN's advanced features. But if you've ever lost work because of a dropped VPN connection, or gotten malware from a compromised site, that extra $3/month suddenly looks like the best insurance you've ever bought.
Originally published at Nexus AI
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