NordVPN Threat Protection Pro Review 2026: Is It Your All-In-One Security Solution?

Does NordVPN's Threat Protection, an integrated ad and malware blocker, live up to the brand's high standards? We've determined that NordVPN Threat Protection Pro is a solid blocking tool, though it has some gaps in protection. 

Based on our testing, Threat Protection does a commendable job of clearing pesky ads, but it's recently struggled to block pre-rolled YouTube ads. It’s a great option if you want comprehensive protection from NordVPN.

We'll detail our thoughts and testing experience in our NordVPN Threat Protection review. 

Overview

Ads blocked on Forbes	7
Adblock Tester score	86/100
Can You Block It score	3/3
Does it block YouTube ads?	No
Whitelisting available	Yes
Blacklisting available	No
Compatibility	Threat Protection Pro: Windows, macOS Threat Protection: Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Edge, Firefox
Price	$3.39–$25.29/mo
Learn more	Get NordVPN Threat Protection

Star rating summary

We last tested NordVPN Threat Protection Pro on February 1, 2026.

Our experience

We've found Nord products and features included with the virtual private network (VPN) to be consistently user-friendly, providing informative walkthroughs for first-time users. 

Once we installed NordVPN, we were given the option to enable Threat Protection Pro. Nord enabled it in the app itself and added the browser extension to all the browsers we had downloaded. 

In the NordVPN sidebar, select the shield icon to customize your Threat Protection Pro settings. We like how clean the layout is, with anti-malware, advanced browsing protection, and the ad and tracker blocker all clearly displayed. There are also buttons to pause or customize the features as needed. 

As we started using Threat Protection Pro, we noticed that the webpages we visited, like the Forbes homepage, had little to no ad clutter. After diving into the ad and tracker blocker section of the Threat Protection Pro tab, we found a list of everything that was blocked. 

Threat Protection Pro lists the number of ads and trackers blocked, and it even breaks them down. On the Forbes homepage, Threat Protection Pro blocked 7 ads and 6 trackers, though the trackers blocked are listed in a different view. In the past, NordVPN TP blocked 21 ads and trackers, but it still reliably passed our in-house tests. 

Unfortunately, Threat Protection Pro failed to block YouTube video ads during our latest round of testing. It blocked 8 YouTube ads and stopped trackers, but we still had interruptions while streaming videos. This issue has been intermittent during our past testing experiences, so we hope to see it block YouTube ads more consistently in the future, similar to Total Adblock and Surfshark CleanWeb.

Mobile experience

You can also enable NordVPN Threat Protection on your NordVPN mobile app, but not Threat Protection Pro. The regular Threat Protection feature only blocks malicious websites and trackers.

We tested NordVPN Threat Protection on our Android device to determine how well it works. NordVPN Threat Protection scored 60/100 with AdBlock Tester and 2/3 with Can You Block It, so it can at least block some ads. 

NordVPN Threat Protection is easy to enable from your phone. Just select the shield button at the bottom and toggle Threat Protection on. We do like that it includes spam call protection, too. 

Prices and plans

Included with NordVPN, Threat Protection starts at $12.99/mo for the monthly plan and goes as low as $3.39/mo for a two-year commitment. 

The regular Threat Protection is a DNS-based tool included with all Nord plans. It only blocks ads and malicious domains. NordVPN Plus, Complete, and Prime include Threat Protection Pro, a more comprehensive feature. It provides anti-malware protection, advanced browsing protection, and an ad and tracker blocker.

Threat Protection doesn't offer a free plan, unlike Total Adblock, and is more expensive than most ad blocker bundles, such as Surfshark CleanWeb. However, you'll receive VPN protection and ad, tracker, and malicious file blockers. 

Below, we compare the pricing for monthly, annual, and two-year subscription lengths for each NordVPN plan tier. 

Plan	Monthly plan	1-year plan	2-year plan
Basic	$12.99/mo	$4.99/mo	$3.39/mo
Plus	$15.29/mo	$5.99/mo	$4.39/mo
Complete	$18.69/mo	$6.99/mo	$5.39/mo
Ultimate	$25.29/mo	$8.99/mo	$7.39/mo

NordVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee, letting you try its service risk-free. However, please note that a true "free trial" option isn’t available.

Threat Protection Pro vs. Threat Protection

NordVPN offers two variations of its cybersecurity solution: Threat Protection Pro and Threat Protection.

Threat Protection Pro offers a comprehensive feature set, including malware scanning, phishing protection, tracker blocking, and ad blocking. It's available on Nord's desktop apps for Windows and macOS, and it doesn’t require a VPN connection.

In contrast, Threat Protection primarily focuses on blocking ads and malicious/phishing domains. However, it can’t block all ads, doesn't block trackers, and can't scan for malware during downloads. It's compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux, as well as Android and iOS mobile devices.

Additionally, the regular Threat Protection is available on NordVPN's extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. A significant difference is that a VPN connection is required to use Threat Protection.

Feature	Threat Protection Pro	Threat Protection
Blocks malicious domains
Blocks phishing domains
Blocks ads		Limited
Scans downloaded files for malware
Blocks trackers
Blocks malicious websites
Email protection
VPN connection required
Compatibility	Windows, macOS	Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Chrome, Firefox, Edge
Learn more	View plan	View plan

Should you get NordVPN for Threat Protection Pro?

NordVPN and Threat Protection Pro are worth the cost, as both offer security features that protect your internet connection and keep your online activities safe from prying eyes — even those of your internet service provider (ISP) and hackers.

NordVPN is also our top-recommended VPN service. It has a large server network (9,000+ servers in 165+ countries) and can consistently unblock streaming services.

The VPN app also comes with specialty servers, including:

• Obfuscated servers using OpenVPN (TCP)
• Onion over VPN
• Double VPN
• P2P
• Dedicated IP

NordVPN is based in Panama and has a verified no-logs policy. This makes it an excellent choice for anyone who needs internet access but lives in a country with stringent censorship rules, such as China, or for those who need to protect their personal data. Learn more in our complete NordVPN review.

Features

With NordVPN Threat Protection Pro, you get web protection, file protection, and vulnerability detection. These features include the following: 

• Malware blocker
• Web tracker blocker
• Ad blocker
• URL trimmer
• Cloud-based threat detection

NordVPN Threat Protection Pro equips you with antivirus and ad-blocking features. This powerful duo works in tandem to keep you safe from malware, ads, trackers, and phishing attacks.

A standout feature is its real-time protection, which provides vigilant monitoring of downloaded files and immediate action against suspicious activities. 

However, the absence of a standalone firewall might be a point of contention for some, as it could require reliance on separate antivirus software or existing firewall solutions.

Real-time protection

Another noteworthy feature of NordVPN's Threat Protection Pro is its real-time protection capability. This feature keeps tabs on your online activities, including web browsing, emails, and app interactions. If it detects suspicious activity, it immediately alerts you.

Threat Protection can shield you from a variety of malware threats, including Trojans, ransomware, and spyware. Our testing revealed no hitches with the real-time protection, which easily deleted harmful files.

Phishing protection

NordVPN Threat Protection Pro also incorporates anti-phishing features. The malicious URL blocker scans URLs and blocks access to any sites it finds malicious. During our tests, we found it adept at identifying and blocking phishing attempts, adding a critical layer of protection to your browsing.

The setup process is fairly straightforward and requires minimal technical knowledge. However, it could benefit from more granular control options, such as the ability to fine-tune your level of protection.

Threat Protection Pro has also added Email protection to its arsenal of advanced browsing protection. This feature can analyze all the links in your Gmail and Yahoo Mail inboxes and identify any potential phishing, scams, or other suspicious activity. 

You can find this feature in the Advanced Browsing Protection section of the Threat Protection Pro tab. 

Tracker and ad blocker

Threat Protection Pro is mostly effective at blocking ads and trackers. It keeps count of blocked ads, providing you with a quantifiable measure of the protection it offers. However, certain aspects could be confusing for novice users, like the whitelisting feature. Here's how to use Threat Protection Pro's whitelisting feature to prevent ads from being blocked on a specific website.

1. In the app, navigate to the Ad and tracker blocker dashboard.

2. Click to expand the ad blocker section.

3. Select which website you'd like whitelisted by clicking the three dots next to the website.

4. Simply click the "unblock" button to stop blocking ads on that website. 

NordVPN Threat Protection Pro test results

In our commitment to providing you with reliable, objective data, we conducted rigorous tests of NordVPN Threat Protection Pro. We used AdBlock Tester and Can You Block It to test its ad-blocking capabilities and antivirus effectiveness.

NordVPN Threat Protection Pro scores

	AdBlock Tester	Can You Block It
NordVPN Threat Protection Pro score	86/100	3/3

We tested Threat Protection Pro’s ability to block ads and trackers using three key tools. The first is AdBlock Tester, a web tool designed to test the effectiveness of an ad blocker in preventing common forms of online advertising, such as pop-ups and banner ads, as well as analytics tools and error monitoring. 

Threat Protection had a high score of 86/100. It mostly failed tests in the banner ads and error monitoring sections, which aren't concerning for blocking ads or maintaining privacy.

Can You Block It tests for ad blocker warnings, banner ads, and interstitial ads (or those pesky ads that pop up while the webpage loads). Threat Protection Pro blocked all three test types with ease.

YouTube ad test

We imagine many of our readers can relate to the frustration caused by YouTube ads. You'll be mid-video when an ad interrupts your experience. This is where ad blockers can come in handy. 

One of the primary perks of an ad blocker is its ability to block YouTube ads. We test all ad blockers we review on this ability. First, we turned off Threat Protection Pro and navigated to YouTube. We found a video and noted any ads we spotted, such as pre-roll and banner ads. 

Then, we enabled Threat Protection Pro and refreshed the YouTube video. Unfortunately, it failed to block a pre-rolled ad during our latest round of testing. We hope it succeeds the next time that we test it, as it has in the past.  

Bypassing paywall test

Another common frustration while browsing online is paywalls. You'll find an interesting article, read the first paragraph, but then the site will block you from continuing unless you have a subscription. 

We tested NordVPN Threat Protection Pro on sites known for having paywalls, such as The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and The Atlantic. It couldn't bypass any of these paywalls. 

This isn't a feature expected from ad blockers, so we weren't concerned about the result. 

AV-TEST results

• Result: Threat Protection Pro is approved by AV-TEST.

AV-TEST is an independent research institute that tests antivirus programs and VPNs. NordVPN was evaluated for its malware detection capabilities alongside other VPN providers, including ExpressVPN, IPVanish, and ProtonVPN.

NordVPN significantly surpassed all the other providers, with an 83.42% detection rate. It also flagged 11 false positives, beaten only by Mullvad, which flagged 7. 

Due to its high test results, NordVPN has received the AV-TEST Approved certificate for Network Threat Protection.   

AV-Comparatives results

• Result: Threat Protection Pro had a high phishing protection rate and no false positives. 

AV-Comparatives is another independent organization dedicated to testing and evaluating cybersecurity software, such as antivirus and parental controls. It runs multiple types of tests, including real-world protection, malware protection, performance, and more. 

NordVPN Threat Protection Pro hasn't undergone the standard AV-Comparatives antivirus tests, but it does undergo AV-Comparatives anti-phishing tests. 

Threat Protection Pro blocked 93% of 275 phishing URLs and detected zero false positives. It previously blocked 85% of phishing URLs in 2024, so it's reassuring to see that the product continues to improve. 

NordVPN Threat Protection compatibility

	NordVPN Threat Protection compatibility
Google Chrome
Mozilla Firefox
Safari
Microsoft Edge
Other browsers
Android
iOS
Desktop apps	Yes — Windows, macOS, Linux

NordVPN Threat Protection Pro is exclusive to the desktop app. You can enable it from the Threat Protection Pro tab on the NordVPN dashboard.

However, the standard Threat Protection can be enabled on Linux, smartphones, and browser extensions. 

Customer support

Support type	NordVPN Threat Protection
Email or live chat
Phone
Online guides or forums

NordVPN offers a variety of support channels for its customers, ensuring help is available whenever needed. This includes 24/7 live chat support, a resource we found to be quite responsive and effective in resolving Threat Protection queries. 

In our interactions with customer service representatives, we found them knowledgeable, patient, and eager to provide practical solutions.

Alongside real-time support, NordVPN provides a comprehensive knowledge base comprising guides, FAQs, and troubleshooting articles.

Specific to Threat Protection, NordVPN offers easy-to-follow online guides. These cover a broad spectrum of topics, from setup to dealing with potential issues. These guides are laid out in a user-friendly manner, using non-technical language that's easy to comprehend.

NordVPN Threat Protection user reviews

• Apple App Store rating: 4.7
• Google Play Store rating: 4.6
• Trustpilot rating: 4.1

NordVPN Threat Protection doesn't have its own ratings because it's bundled into NordVPN, so all of the ratings we collected are based on NordVPN. 

NordVPN has overwhelmingly high ratings on both app stores. Most reviews love how easy it was to set up the app, as well as the security and fast speeds it provides. 

On Trustpilot, 72% of NordVPN's ratings were five stars. Reviewers call out its helpful customer service and the app's reliability. Most of the negative reviews address unblocking geo-restrictions and automatic renewals. 

How to use NordVPN Threat Protection

Because Threat Protection is bundled with NordVPN, using the ad-blocking service isn't as straightforward. You can enable the basic Threat Protection to work with the NordVPN browser extension. For Threat Protection Pro, you'll need to use NordVPN's Windows or macOS app. 

To get Threat Protection to work on your browser, follow these steps:

1. Search for the NordVPN extension in the Chrome Web Store, Microsoft Store, or Firefox add-ons page. 
2. Once the extension is installed, log in to your NordVPN account. 
3. Select the Settings gear. 
4. Toggle Threat Protection on.  

Top alternatives

While NordVPN Threat Protection offers comprehensive protection, there are other bundled services in the VPN, ad blocker, and antivirus landscape. 

Bottom line: Is NordVPN Threat Protection good?

When it comes to overall protection and cybersecurity, NordVPN Threat Protection is a solid contender. With its inclusive ad-blocking and antivirus features, it adds an extra layer of safety to your online browsing and data. 

NordVPN Threat Protection shines particularly with its real-time protection and phishing safeguards, adding a strong layer of proactive defense against online threats.

However, if cost is a significant consideration for you and if you’re looking for highly specific or advanced antivirus features, Threat Protection Pro might feel limited. It also provides only partial protection against trackers. 

NordVPN Threat Protection is an excellent ad blocker if you're looking for a well-rounded, user-friendly, and reliable online protection suite. The service combines essential cybersecurity features into a single package, making it ideal for those who value convenience and comprehensive protection.

See how NordVPN Threat Protection compares to Total Adblock.

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