Introduction
This article explains the different specialty server categories NordVPN offers to suit various online needs. Understanding these categories, from Standard servers for daily use to highly specialized options like Double VPN and Onion Over VPN, will help you choose the best server for you. Check out the official NordVPN blog for a more detailed explanation of how a VPN works.
Here's what to do
Standard Servers
Standard servers are ideal for everyday use, offering the best connection speeds. They secure your internet traffic and hide your IP address by encrypting your data when you're browsing at home or using public Wi-Fi.
When you connect, your traffic is encrypted and sent through your Internet Service Provider (ISP) to a NordVPN server, where it's decrypted and then sent to its final destination.
How to connect to a standard server:
- Use the "Secure my connection" button for an automatic connection.
- Select a server manually from the "All countries" list.
Specialty servers
Double VPN:
- Double VPN servers provide an extra layer of security by routing your internet traffic through two VPN servers instead of one. These servers encrypt your data twice and change your IP address twice. This feature is intended for journalists, political activists, informants, and anyone needing enhanced privacy, especially when in countries with high levels of censorship or surveillance.
Onion Over VPN:
- This feature combines the anonymity of The Onion Router (Tor) with the security of a VPN tunnel. Your traffic first goes to a NordVPN server, then through the Onion network, and finally to the internet. Onion over VPN provides a significant privacy boost, especially in countries with heavy surveillance. You do not need to download the Tor browser to use this feature.
Obfuscated servers:
- Obfuscated servers are designed to bypass heavy internet restrictions and firewalls that block VPNs. They use a sophisticated algorithm to hide the fact that you are using a VPN, allowing you to connect even in highly restrictive environments. For more information on how these servers work, you can find dedicated articles. You can connect by selecting them from the "Specialty servers" list.
P2P:
- P2P (Peer-to-Peer) servers are specialized for fast and secure file sharing, such as downloading. These servers are optimized to handle large amounts of traffic while keeping your IP address hidden from other peers
How to connect to a specialty server:
- Open the NordVPN app.
- Find the "Specialty servers" list.
- Select the specialty server group you want to connect to and allow the application to find the best server for you automatically.
Dedicated IP
A Dedicated IP is an IP address that is exclusively yours. While standard servers have multiple users sharing the same IP, a Dedicated IP ensures you are the only person using that address. A dedicated IP helps in bypassing VPN blocklists and avoiding frequent CAPTCHA requests. This server category is for users who have purchased a Dedicated IP address from NordVPN. For more information, you can check our article on how to start using NordVPN dedicated IP.
Additional tips
- If a specialty server is missing: If you cannot see Double VPN or Obfuscated servers, try switching your connection protocol to OpenVPN (TCP or UDP).
- If Onion Over VPN is missing: This feature is only available on the OpenVPN protocol. If it's still not visible, it may be due to the current instability or the limited capacity of Tor nodes. The NordVPN team is looking into improving this situation.
- If your Dedicated IP is missing: Ensure you are using the NordLynx or OpenVPN (TCP/UDP) protocols. This feature is not available on browser extensions, tvOS.
- If your Double VPN connection is slow: A slower connection is expected with Double VPN because it routes and encrypts your traffic through a second server, which requires more resources. It is not recommended for everyday activities. Check our guides for troubleshooting steps if you experience slow speed on any server.
- If you can't access .onion sites: Check out our guide to know how to access .onion websites via Firefox.
