NordVPN Standard

What is included in NordVPN Standard?

Encrypted VPN access – Full server network, no bandwidth or data caps.
DNS threat blocking – Filters malicious domains, ads and trackers when connected.
Specialty servers – Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, obfuscated, P2P.
Split tunneling – Exclude selected apps on Windows and Android.
Core Capacity – 9,431 servers in 149 countries, 224 locations.
Important – Commercial and company-wide deployment is not covered by this consumer edition, there is no Windows Server app, and the next-gen antivirus malware scanner belongs to the higher tiers.

What are the main benefits of NordVPN Standard?

NordVPN Standard is the VPN-only tier of the NordVPN service, listed on NordVPN's own pricing page as the Basic plan. It covers the encrypted connection, the complete server network and DNS-level threat blocking, without the additional Nord Security apps bundled into the tiers above it.

Public Wi-Fi safety – Encrypts hotel, airport and café connections automatically.
Home region access – Reach your usual services while travelling abroad.
ISP throttling relief – Hides traffic type from your internet provider.
Router coverage – One router setup protects every device behind it.
Audited no-logs – Independent auditors confirmed the policy four times.
Low speed loss – NordLynx keeps streaming and video calls stable.

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What does NordVPN Standard do?

NordVPN Standard routes your device traffic through an encrypted tunnel to a NordVPN server and replaces your visible IP address with the server's. The tier opens the complete network of 9,431 servers across 149 countries, including the specialty categories: Double VPN, Onion Over VPN, obfuscated servers for restrictive networks, and servers optimised for P2P traffic. NordLynx, NordVPN's WireGuard-based protocol, is the default, which is why the speed penalty stays small enough for HD streaming and video calls. In daily terms, this is what you switch on before joining conference Wi-Fi or a hotel network, so the network operator sees one encrypted session instead of the sites and services you open.

What is the difference between NordVPN Standard, Plus, Complete and Prime?

The VPN itself is identical across all four tiers: same servers, same protocols, same limit of 10 simultaneous connections. What changes is the bundle of extra Nord Security applications layered on top. Standard, which NordVPN's own pricing page now labels Basic, is the VPN-only option; Plus adds the next-gen antivirus and the NordPass password manager; Complete adds 1 TB of NordLocker cloud storage; Prime adds the Incogni data removal service. If you already run a password manager and cloud storage you are satisfied with, the higher tiers add cost without adding a single VPN capability.

Does NordVPN Standard include the next-gen antivirus and malware scanner?

No. Standard includes DNS-based threat blocking only, which filters malicious and phishing domains, ads and trackers at the DNS level, and it works solely while you are connected to a VPN server. The next-gen antivirus, the feature previously branded Threat Protection Pro, sits in the tier above and adds the download malware scanner, the vulnerability scanner, email link checking and the hijacked session alert, and it keeps running with the VPN switched off. The practical consequence is simple: if you download an infected installer while disconnected, Standard will not catch it. Buy Standard only when another resident antivirus already handles file scanning on that machine.

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Which platforms does NordVPN Standard support?

The Standard subscription works with every NordVPN client: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Android TV and Apple TV, plus browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox and Edge. Two hard limits are worth checking first. There is no Windows Server build, so the app cannot be deployed on a server operating system, and the current Windows client requires 64-bit Windows 10 or Windows 11 while older systems fall back to a legacy client that no longer receives updates. The apps also protect at device level rather than per user account, so on a shared Windows PC only one signed-in account can hold the VPN connection at a time.

Does NordVPN Standard include a dedicated IP and split tunneling?

Split tunneling is included; a dedicated IP is not. Split tunneling is available on Windows, Android and Android TV, where you exclude specific applications from the tunnel, which is the usual fix for a banking app or a local network utility that stops working when your IP changes. Linux offers an Allowlist instead, excluding ports or subnets rather than applications, and macOS and iOS have neither because of Apple's Network Extension restrictions. A dedicated IP is sold as a separate add-on on top of any tier, so choosing Standard rather than a higher plan does not remove that option later.

Who is NordVPN Standard best suited for?

Standard fits someone who wants the encrypted connection and nothing else, because the rest of the stack is already in place: a password manager they trust, an antivirus that scans downloads, their own cloud storage. The deciding detail is the download malware scanner, since that is the single functional gap between Standard and Plus. If Microsoft Defender or another resident antivirus already covers file scanning on the machines you use, the higher tiers duplicate protection you have. Standard is the wrong choice for a company rollout, though, since NordVPN's consumer service is licensed for personal use and Nord's business product is NordLayer.

Frequently asked questions about NordVPN Standard

Can two people use NordVPN Standard on the same computer at once?

No. The app applies device-wide protection, so every user on that machine is covered by one active connection, and two Windows accounts cannot each run their own VPN session simultaneously. To give two people separate connections, use two devices.

Does NordVPN Standard support P2P traffic?

Yes. P2P-optimised servers sit in the Specialty Servers section of the app and are open to every tier, including Standard. They are the servers to select for file sharing, since not all standard locations are configured for that traffic.

Does NordVPN log what I do online?

NordVPN operates a no-logs policy that independent auditors have examined and confirmed four separate times. The policy is identical for every tier, so Standard offers exactly the same privacy position as the more expensive plans.

Can I install NordVPN Standard on a router?

Yes, through manual configuration on a compatible router, and this covers every device on the network including smart TVs and consoles that have no NordVPN app. The router counts as one of your 10 simultaneous connections regardless of how many devices sit behind it.