NordVPN Threat Protection Review 2025: Is It Your All-In-One Security Solution?

NordVPN's Threat Protection Pro feature provides comprehensive protection against ads, trackers, and malicious downloads based on its near-perfect test results. From its function and compatibility to pricing and support, we tested every aspect to help you decipher if NordVPN's Threat Protection is the best ad blocker for you.

NordVPN is widely renowned for its outstanding features, formidable security protocols, and fair pricing. If you're seeking just an ad blocker, this might not be the best solution, but it's a great option if you want to an ad blocker, browsing protection, an encrypted connection from its VPN, and more. 

Does NordVPN's Threat Protection Pro, an integrated ad and malware blocker, live up to the high standards set by the brand itself?

Overview

Malware scans	Automatic
EICAR test results	3/3
Firewall	No
Phishing protection	Yes
Ads blocked on Forbes	51
Adblock Tester score	96/100
Cover Your Tracks score	2/3
Can You Block It score	2/3
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, Firefox, Edge
Price	$3.39–$17.99/mo
Learn more	Get NordVPN Threat Protection

We last tested NordVPN Threat Protection Pro on March 4, 2025.

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 went ahead and enabled it on the app itself and added the browser extension to all the browsers we had downloaded. 

From the Nord sidebar, you can select the shield icon to customize your Threat Protection settings. We like how clean the layout is, with web protection, file protection, and vulnerability detection all clearly displayed, along with buttons to pause or customize the features as needed. 

As we started using Threat Protection, we noticed that webpages we visited like the Forbes homepage had little to no clutter from ads.

Unfortunately, Threat Protection Pro failed to block YouTube ads during our latest round of testing. This has been on and off during our past testing experiences, so we hope to see it block those ads more consistently in the future. 

Prices and subscriptions

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

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

Threat Protection doesn't offer a free plan and is more expensive than most ad blockers. However, you'll receive VPN protection and a blocker against ads, trackers, and malicious files. 

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 (billed annually)	$3.39/mo (billed every two years)
Plus	$13.99/mo	$5.99/mo (billed annually)	$4.39/mo (billed every two years)
Ultimate	$14.99/mo	$6.99/mo (billed annually)	$5.39/mo (billed every two years)
Ultimate	$17.99/mo	$9.99/mo (billed annually)	$8.39/mo (billed every two years)

Threat Protection Pro vs. Threat Protection

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

Threat Protection Pro has a comprehensive feature set that includes 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 focuses primarily on blocking some ads as well as malicious domains and 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
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?

In our opinion, yes. NordVPN and Threat Protection Pro are worth the cost since both provide security features that help secure 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 one of our top-recommended VPN services. It has a large server network (7,400+ servers in 118 countries) and can consistent 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 censorship rules, like China, or for those with a need to protect their personal data.

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 stand-out 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 since that could require relying 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 as it easily deleted harmful files.

Phishing protection

NordVPN's Threat Protection Pro also incorporates anti-phishing features. With the malicious URL blocker, it scans URLs and block 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, requiring minimal technical knowledge. However, it could benefit from more granular control options, like allowing you to fine-tune your level of protection.

Tracker and ad blocker

Threat Protection Pro is efficient when it comes to blocking ads and trackers. It keeps a 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. During our testing, we couldn't find out how to whitelist within 10 minutes of searching the app and extensions. 

After some Google searches, we found that you can by going to Threat Protection Pro > Web protection, then scrolling down to Web protection activity. You can select the three dots next to any URL, which will provide you with the option to exclude a domain from threat blocking. 

Despite these minor learning curves, the ad and tracker blocker remains an integral and powerful part of NordVPN's Threat Protection.

NordVPN Threat Protection test results

In our commitment to provide you with reliable and objective data, we conducted rigorous tests on NordVPN Threat Protection Pro. We used AdBlock Tester, the Electronic Frontier Foundation’s (EFF’s) Cover Your Tracks tools, Can You Block It, and the European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research (EICAR) tests to test its ad blocking capabilities and antivirus effectiveness.

NordVPN Threat Protection scores

	AdBlock Tester	Cover Your Tracks	Can You Block It
NordVPN Threat Protection score	96/100	2/3	2/3

We tested Nord’s ability to block ads and trackers using three key tools. The first is AdBlock Tester, a web tool designed to test how effectively an ad blocker can prevent common forms of online advertising like pop-ups and banner ads, as well as analytics tools and error monitoring. 

Threat Protection had a high score of 96/100. It only failed one test under the error monitoring category, which isn't a big deal for the casual computer user. 

The second tool is Cover Your Tracks, which assesses the degree to which a tool can prevent online tracking by third-party entities. 

We found that Threat Protection blocks tracking ads and invisible trackers. It was only docked points based on our fingerprint, which was found to be unique. Most of the ad blockers we've reviewed have received the same result, so you can feel good about Threat Protection's outcome. 

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). Because we still saw the interstitial ad, NordVPN Threat Protection scored a 2/3.

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 and navigated to YouTube. We found a video and took note of any ads we spotted, like pre-roll ads and banner ads. 

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

Bypassing paywall test

Another common frustation while browsing online are 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 on sites known for having paywalls, like the Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg, and the Atlantic. Unfortunately, the paywalls remained on every site.

EICAR test results

When it comes to antivirus testing, we used the EICAR test files. These are files created by the European Institute for Computer Antivirus Research that mimic cyberthreats like malware and phishing links. These files allow you to safely test the effectiveness of your antivirus software without risking exposure to actual malware.

Test	NordVPN Threat Protection score
Malware detection	Pass
Drive-by malware downloads	Pass
Phishing detection	Pass

In our tests, Threat Protection Pro was able to detect and block malware files from downloading. During this round of testing, Nord also blocked the phishing page, providing comprehensive antivirus protection. 

AV-TEST results

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

AV-TEST is an independent research institute that conducts testing on antivirus programs as well as VPNs. NordVPN was evaluated for its malware detection capabilities alongside other VPN providers like ExpressVPN, IPVanish, and Proton VPN.

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

Due to its high test results, NordVPN is 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 like antivirus and parental controls. It runs multiple types of tests based on real-world protection, malware protection, performance, and more. 

NordVPN Threat Protection 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 is improving. 

Customer support

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 quite responsive and effective in resolving queries related to Threat Protection. 

In our interactions with customer service representatives, we found them to be knowledgeable, patient, and keen on providing 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.

How to use NordVPN Threat Protection

Because Threat Protection is bundled with NordVPN, using the ad-blocking service can be a bit tricky. We weren't able to get Threat Protection to work in the browser for either Chrome or Edge on our PC. The only way to view whether the protection was actually working was through the app dashboard. In terms of usability, this is significantly less user-friendly than standalone ad blockers. 

A lot of customer feedback complains about the usability issues, and the workaround is cumbersome. To get Threat Protection to work on your browser, try following these steps:

1. Shut down your laptop or computer.
2. Unplug your device from the power source for a full minute. (Even when you shut your computer down, if it's plugged in, it may still pull residual power and keep systems running.)
3. Restart everything slowly. Make sure all your launch processes have finished before opening up your browser.
4. Only activate Threat Protection after you open your browser. 
5. If it's still giving you problems, you may have to uninstall and reinstall NordVPN Threat Protection before switching to the version.

Top alternatives

While NordVPN Threat Protection offers comprehensive protection, there are other bundled services in the VPN, ad blocker, and antivirus landscape. Below are three of our top-tested alternatives:

FAQs

Bottom line: Is NordVPN Threat Protection good?

When it comes to overall protection and cybersecurity, NordVPN Threat Protection is a substantial contender. With its inclusive ad blocking and antivirus functionalities, 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.

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 in one package, making it ideal for those who value convenience and comprehensive protection.

See how NordVPN Threat Protection compares to Total Adblock.