How to Claim Your NordVPN Free Trial in 2021

NordVPN used to have a 3-day free trial offer, but it’s recently been removed. We feel this is a pity, as NordVPN is one of the best VPN providers we’ve ever reviewed and a free trial period is a great way for people to see whether or not it’s the right VPN service for them.

However, we have some very, very good news for you: NordVPN has replaced it with a 7-day free trial!

So if you’ve been holding out, now’s your chance to claim your NordVPN free trial in 2021.

But wait – NordVPN also has a 30-day money-back guarantee. Does that mean you can cheat the system and get 37 days for free? Keep reading to find out…

How to Get the 7-Day Free Trial from NordVPN

Of course, there’s a catch to the 7-day free trial: it’s only available through the Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

You also can only get it if you provide credit card details (no other payment options, unfortunately), though naturally you won’t be charged unless you decide to continue with your subscription.

It’s also not clear whether taking advantage of the 7-day free trial disqualifies you from creating a new account and benefiting from the 30-day money-back guarantee. What we do know for sure is you won’t be able to stack the two together directly.

But there might be a workaround – if you’re willing to use two different email addresses and payment methods.

Let’s start with the 7-day free trial.

1. Depending on your smartphone’s operating system, open the Apple App Store or Google Play Store (Android) and search for NordVPN. Be wary of fake apps! If you prefer to play it safe, visit this page on your mobile browser and use the links provided above instead.
2. Scroll past the initial “Download” button and tap the “Free Trial” option instead (see photo below!)
3. You’ll notice the free trial is only available with the 12-Month Plan. This is why you’ll be asked to enter your credit card information after clicking “Start Free Trial.”
4. The Google Play Store or Apple App Store will give you a pop-up notification asking you to confirm whether you want to continue, under the heading “Payment Information Required.” Click “Continue” to proceed.
5. Enter your credit card information. Once the free trial ends, your Google Play Store or iTunes account will charge your card. If you don’t intend to continue using NordVPN after the free trial ends, remember to cancel your subscription beforehand!
6. After installing the app, launch it. You’ll be asked to create a NordVPN account at this point, using your email address and a password.
7. Once your account has been created (remember to check your email for the confirmation link), go ahead and log into the app.
8. Connect to a NordVPN server manually or use the “Quick Connect” feature to choose the best available server for you.

That’s it! You can now enjoy your NordVPN free trial for 7 days without any other restrictions.

Alternatively, if you do use the initial “Download” button (step 2), you’ll still be given a chance to opt for the Free Trial option after creating your NordVPN user account (steps 6 to 7).

All you need to do is click that option – a pop-up from Google Play or the Apple App Store will then ask you for your credit card details (step 5).

Don’t Want to Get Charged After Your 7 Days Are Up?

If during your free trial period you realize NordVPN isn’t the VPN for you, you need to cancel your subscription before the 7 days are up.

1. Log into your NordVPN account via the provider’s website.
2. Next to “Change Plan” under “My Services,” click the 3 dots.
3. A mini pop-up will show on your screen. Tap “Cancel Automatic Payments” and “Confirm Cancellation”.
4. After a few moments, another pop-up will appear to confirm “Your automatic payments have been canceled.”

You need to cancel the payment set up with the Google Play or Apple App Store as well.

How to Use the 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee

As mentioned earlier, it isn’t clear whether the 30-day money-back guarantee is available to users who take advantage of the 7-day free trial.

7 days might be enough for many people to suss out whether a VPN provider is the right one for them. It also offers a viable option to those who aren’t able to pay for a subscription even with the promise of a full refund.

So even though this guide is primarily concerned with the 7-day free trial, we feel it would be beneficial to walk you through using the 30-day money-back guarantee too.

After all, NordVPN advertises it (somewhat misleadingly) as a 30-day free trial!

5. Visit the Free Trial page on NordVPN’s website and tap “Start Now”.
6. Choose a subscription plan – the 30-day money-back guarantee is available for all of them.
7. Click “Continue to Payment” and enter your details.
8. Create a NordVPN account and check your email for the confirmation link.
9. The “Welcome” email will also redirect you to the Download App page. NordVPN will automatically detect your device type and display the correct app page.
10. Download, install, and launch the NordVPN app to login using your account details.
11. Connect to a NordVPN server manually or use the “Quick Connect” feature to choose the best available server for you.

You’ll need to request your refund at least 24 hours before your 30 days are up.

This is to give NordVPN enough time to acknowledge the request and ensure your subscription won’t be renewed and your account charged:

12. Log into your NordVPN account via the provider’s website.
13. Next to “Change Plan” under “My Services,” click the 3 dots.
14. A mini pop-up will show on your screen. Tap “Cancel Automatic Payments” and “Confirm Cancellation”.
15. After a few moments, another pop-up will appear to confirm that “Your automatic payments have been canceled.”
16. You can now log-out and click on the support speech bubble icon in the bottom-right corner of your screen.
17. Select “Email” from the drop-down tab of options.
18. Use “Refund” as your subject line and select “Billing” from the second drop-down tab.
19. Fill in the rest of the blocks with your email, payment method, subscription plan, date of payment, etc., as well as a reason for the refund request.
20. Tap “Send”.

Although not entirely necessary, it’s always best to follow-up via Live Chat as well.

Mention you’ve sent an email to billing and provide your details – this can help make the process a lot quicker and ensure your request is attended while you’re still eligible for the refund!

Wrapping Up

So – which is better: NordVPN’s 7-day free trial or using the 30-day money-back guarantee?

Ultimately, that’s for you to decide! That is why you need to compare VPNs side by side to get a true idea which VPN suits you and your needs.

If you feel 7 days is enough for you to properly test NordVPN’s service (and you’re willing to commit to a 1-year subscription if you find it meets your needs), then you should definitely take advantage of the 7-day free trial.

On the other hand, if you feel you need longer than that and/or can’t afford a year’s subscription up-front, we suggest opting for the 30-day money-back guarantee instead.