▓▒░ TESTING: NORDVPN ░▒▓

Is NordVPN working?

NordVPN is audited four times (PwC 2018/2020/2022, Deloitte 2023) and runs on RAM-only colocated servers. Of the major VPNs, it has the strongest default leak protection. Use the live widget below to confirm your specific session is actually hiding you.

★ isvpnworking.com - Live Status Window
_
□
×
⚡ live status check ⚡
checking . . .
running 3 tests on your connection, hold tight
FYI we're checking your IP, location, and 3 types of leaks. all in your browser, nothing sent to us.
visible IP →
…
they think you're in →
…
VPN brand detected →
…
tested at →
--:--:--
┌─ LEAK DETECTION RESULTS ─┐
▸ webrtc test peer-to-peer ip leak
running…
▸ dns test domain query leak
running…
▸ ipv6 test protocol exposure
running…
★ How to verify NordVPN is working
_
□
×

Open the NordVPN app, hit Connect, then run the test widget at the top of this page. Three checks tell you whether NordVPN is doing its job:

  1. Visible IP changed - the IP shown above should differ from your real ISP IP. If unchanged, the tunnel is not routing traffic.
  2. Country matches your selected server - if NordVPN says you're connected to "Germany" but our checker shows your real country, the tunnel is broken.
  3. All three leak rows show SAFE - WebRTC, DNS, IPv6. If any row reads LEAK / EXPOSED, your real IP is escaping the tunnel.

Specific NordVPN settings to verify: NordLynx, Threat Protection, Meshnet, Obfuscated Servers, Double VPN. Look for those terms in the app menu - they're the NordVPN-specific names for the protections we're testing.

★ Common NordVPN connection issues
_
□
×

"App says 'Connected' but Quick Connect picks a slow server"

Fix: Switch to manual server pick: tap country -> specific city. Use 'P2P' tag for torrents, 'Obfuscated' for streaming.

"Reconnects randomly on macOS after sleep/wake"

Fix: Settings -> Auto-Connect -> 'Connect to fastest server when launching'. Also enable 'Pause' rather than disconnect, fewer drops.

"Netflix US blocks even with VPN on"

Fix: Disconnect, connect to a smaller US city (Atlanta, Phoenix, Salt Lake), use Obfuscated Servers category. Clear Netflix cookies.

★ NordVPN's leak protection - what we found
_
□
×

Run the widget above with NordVPN connected. Our automated check evaluates four signals: VPN brand detection (via proxycheck.io + org-name heuristic), WebRTC peer-to-peer leak, DNS routing, and IPv6 exposure.

Based on NordVPN's default configuration:

  • WebRTC: OS firewall block
  • DNS handling: NordVPN-operated, Threat Protection blocks ads/malware at DNS
  • IPv6: blocked
  • Kill switch: on by default
  • Port forwarding: no
  • Obfuscation: Obfuscated Servers (paid)

Notable incident in NordVPN's history: 2018 Finland datacenter breach (third-party host fault, no user data); switched to RAM-only colocated servers in 2020

Tested with our checker: WebRTC and IPv6 rows depend on your individual NordVPN setup (server choice, kill-switch state). DNS row is a stub right now (real server-side test in progress) - so the strict checks are WebRTC and IPv6. Cross-check by running the test with NordVPN disconnected, then again with it connected.

Notes last reviewed: 2026-05-11. Settings and defaults change over time; verify in the app if it's been months.

★ NordVPN vs alternatives
_
□
×

How NordVPN compares to its closest competitors on the dimensions our checker tests:

Dimension NordVPNSurfsharkExpressVPN
Headline price $3.39/mo (2-year)$2.49/mo (2-year)$6.67/mo (15-month)
Jurisdiction Panama (outside 5/9/14 Eyes)Netherlands (post-2021 relocation from BVI)British Virgin Islands (outside Eyes alliances)
Audit PwC 2018, 2020, 2022; Deloitte 2023Deloitte 2023, Cure53 2018+2021PwC 2019, KPMG 2021, Cure53 2022, KPMG 2023
Devices 10unlimited8
Port forwarding ✗✗✗
IPv6 blocksblocksblocks
Free tier no7-day mobile trial7-day mobile trial

Reality check: Marketing tier and pricing are real on 2-year plans. Renewal jumps. Best leak protection of mainstream VPNs.

Verdict: Best all-around for streaming + privacy. Pick if Netflix, speed, and audit history all matter.

Compare directly: Is Surfshark working? · Is ExpressVPN working?

try NordVPN ↗
FAQ - NordVPN
Is NordVPN safe?[+]

Audited four times (PwC 2018/2020/2022, Deloitte 2023). RAM-only colocated servers since 2020. Headquartered in Panama, no mandatory data retention.

Does NordVPN keep logs?[+]

No activity or connection logs per multiple audits. Account/billing info is kept (standard for any subscription service).

Does NordVPN work in China?[+]

Yes, with Obfuscated Servers (Settings -> Advanced -> Obfuscated Servers). Performance varies; OpenVPN protocol works better in restrictive networks than NordLynx.

CHECK ANOTHER VPN
NordVPN ExpressVPN Surfshark ProtonVPN Mullvad all 15 →