NordVPN
NordVPN is one of the most established VPN providers, operated by Nord Security, a company headquartered in Panama (outside Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and Fourteen Eyes surveillance alliances). It has been independently audited multiple times to verify its no-logs claims.
What NordVPN does
A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through an intermediary server. This protects you in two ways: your ISP cannot see what you do online, and the services you connect to cannot see your real IP address.
NordVPN does this across 9,200+ servers in 130+ countries. The provider reports stable throughput even on distant routes, citing independent speed tests.
Who NordVPN is for
- Individuals in Switzerland who want to protect their browsing on public Wi-Fi, prevent ISP tracking, or access content while traveling. See our guide: VPN and Password Manager: Which Ones Are Actually Worth Paying For?
- Freelancers handling client data over shared networks. See: The Freelancer Security Setup
- Small teams that need a simple, reliable VPN without managing their own infrastructure. See: Security Tools Every Founder Needs from Day One
If you need a business-grade VPN with centralized user management, Nord also offers NordLayer for teams.
Key features
Threat Protection
NordVPN’s Threat Protection blocks malicious websites, trackers, and intrusive ads at the network level. It works even when the VPN tunnel is off, acting as a lightweight security layer on top of the VPN itself.
No-logs policy
Nord Security’s no-logs policy has been independently audited by Deloitte (2022, 2023) and PricewaterhouseCoopers (2018, 2020). The audits confirmed that NordVPN does not store connection timestamps, session duration, bandwidth usage, traffic data, or IP addresses.
Kill switch
If the VPN connection drops unexpectedly, the kill switch blocks all internet traffic until the tunnel is re-established. This prevents accidental data leaks, particularly important on unstable Wi-Fi connections.
Specialty servers
NordVPN offers Double VPN (traffic routed through two servers), Onion over VPN (VPN + Tor), and obfuscated servers for regions with VPN restrictions.
What NordVPN does not do
- NordVPN does not make you anonymous. It shifts trust from your ISP to Nord Security. You are trusting their no-logs claims (backed by audits, but still trust).
- It does not protect against phishing, weak passwords, or malware already on your device.
- It does not replace a password manager or 2FA.
A VPN covers one layer (transport) in a broader security setup.
Pricing
NordVPN offers three tiers (Basic, Plus, Complete) across monthly, 1-year, and 2-year billing cycles. The 2-year plans offer the best value, with the largest discounts applied to longer commitments.
Check NordVPN’s pricing page for current rates in CHF.
Swiss relevance
Switzerland has strong privacy laws under the nDSG, but your ISP can still see your connection metadata. NordVPN has servers in Zurich, which means you can route traffic through a Swiss exit point while still benefiting from encryption on untrusted networks.
For businesses handling data under nDSG or GDPR, a VPN adds a transport-layer protection that complements (but does not replace) proper data handling practices.