NordVPN Plans Compared: Basic vs Complete vs Prime

NordVPN has three plans: Basic, Complete, and Prime. Basic is the VPN plus DNS-based scam site blocking and basic dark web monitoring. Complete adds a desktop antivirus, an ad and tracker blocker, a password manager, and 1 TB of encrypted cloud storage. Prime adds identity theft insurance, credit monitoring, and credit freeze help. Every tier covers 10 devices and has a 30-day money-back guarantee.

For most people, Complete is the best value during a sale and Basic is the best value long term. Here's why.

NordVPN prices by plan (October 2026)

These are the prices on NordVPN's official pricing page on October 29, 2026, in US dollars, before sales tax. The 1- and 2-year plans currently include 3 extra months under NordVPN's Black Friday sale.

Renewal works out to about $11.59 a month for Basic, $18.29 for Complete, and $24.69 for Prime. The intro discount is measured against those figures; NordVPN's deals page says its savings compare the intro price to the monthly price of the annual renewal.

Check current NordVPN prices

What every plan includes

The VPN itself is identical across tiers. You get the same servers, apps, and protocols whether you pay for Basic or Prime. Every plan includes:

• The VPN on up to 10 devices at the same time.
• Scam and phishing protection. NordVPN filters your traffic through its DNS servers to block ads and malicious domains while you're connected to the VPN.
• Dark Web Monitor for up to 5 email addresses.
• VPN features listed on NordVPN's features page: kill switch, split tunneling, Double VPN, obfuscated servers, Onion Over VPN, Meshnet, and private DNS.
• 30-day money-back guarantee.

Dedicated IP and Incogni data removal are optional add-ons at checkout on any plan. If you want to know whether a dedicated IP is worth paying for, see our dedicated IP guide.

Basic: the VPN and nothing else to pay for

Basic is the right plan if you want a VPN and already use other tools for passwords and antivirus. It has the lowest renewal price by a wide margin.

• Lowest renewal: $139.08 a year
• Same VPN and DNS-level scam site blocking as the top tier
• No antivirus, ad blocker, or password manager
• Dark web monitoring limited to 5 emails

Complete: the bundle most people should consider

Complete adds a set of security tools on top of Basic. Per NordVPN's plan comparison:

• Next-gen antivirus (desktop only). Scans downloaded files and checks apps for weaknesses. NordVPN says it runs even when the VPN isn't connected.
• Ad and tracker blocker (desktop only).
• Email protection for Gmail and Yahoo on desktop.
• Call protection and message protection (Android; NordVPN lists iOS as coming soon).
• Password manager (NordPass) across platforms.
• 1 TB encrypted cloud storage.
• Dark Web Monitor Pro: up to 8 emails plus phone number, card, and national ID or Social Security number. Phone monitoring works only for numbers from selected countries.
• Bank transaction monitoring, currently for US bank accounts only.

On the 2-year intro price, Complete costs $13.50 more than Basic for 27 months. If you'd otherwise pay for a password manager, that's an easy call. The real decision comes at renewal, when Complete costs $80.40 a year more than Basic.

Prime: identity protection on top

Prime includes everything in Complete and adds identity theft tools. These are clearly built for US residents:

• Identity theft insurance up to $1,000,000.
• Cyber extortion insurance up to $100,000.
• Credit freeze assistance with TransUnion guidelines.
• 1-bureau credit monitoring and a VantageScore 3.0 credit score from TransUnion.

NordVPN's pricing page says it is not a licensed insurance producer and that HSB Specialty Insurance Company issues the policy. The Prime cards also mention Coveron, Nord Security's identity protection service, with additional terms. Coveron's own site says its identity protection benefits are for US residents and exclude New York.

Prime costs $81 more than Complete for the first 27 months and renews $76.80 a year higher. That's worth it only if you'd otherwise buy identity theft protection separately. We compare Nord's and Surfshark's identity bundles in detail in our security bundle guide.

Plan-by-plan feature table

What each plan really costs over time

The intro price lasts 27 months on the 2-year plan. After that, NordVPN bills the renewal rate every year. Here's the running total if you buy the 2-year plan today and let it renew, using the official prices above.

Two things stand out. First, the 2-year plan beats month-to-month pricing even after renewals. Second, the gap between tiers grows every year you stay. Over 51 months, Complete costs about $174 more than Basic, and Prime about $409 more.

That's why it pays to look at the extras honestly before each renewal. If you never opened the password manager or cloud storage, dropping to Basic saves real money. Renewal prices change too, so check our renewal price tracker before your date.

Is the 1-year plan ever better?

Only if you're unsure you'll want a VPN in 16 months. The 1-year Basic plan is $74.85 for 15 months, about $19 less up front than the 2-year plan, but it hits the $139.08 renewal a full year sooner. If you'd keep the VPN for two years either way, the 2-year plan is cheaper.

Upgrading, downgrading, and refunds

NordVPN's deals page says you can upgrade at any time, but downgrading requires getting a refund first and buying the lower plan. It also says the 30-day refund applies to the initial subscription, not to renewals.

That makes the first month a good time to test Complete or Prime. If you don't use the extras, request a refund and buy Basic before the window closes. Our guide on canceling a VPN and getting a refund walks through it.

Turning off auto-renewal right after purchase is also smart. You can turn it back on later, and you'll get a chance to compare prices before the renewal hits.

A quick test: do you need the extras?

Answer these honestly before you pick a tier:

• Do you already pay for a password manager? If yes, Complete's biggest perk is duplicated.
• Do you mainly use Windows or Mac? The antivirus and ad blocker are desktop only. Phone-first users get less from Complete.
• Do you need cloud storage? 1 TB is generous, but not useful if you already use iCloud, Google Drive, or OneDrive.
• Are you a US resident who'd buy identity protection anyway? If not, Prime's main additions don't apply to you.
• Will you remember to downgrade at renewal? If not, the cheaper tier protects you from your future self.

Two or more "no" answers usually point to Basic. Our VPN vs antivirus explainer helps if you're unsure whether you need the antivirus at all.

Which NordVPN plan to buy

Still choosing between providers? Our NordVPN vs Surfshark comparison explains how the two companies relate and how their plans differ.