You can’t watch a YouTube video without seeing a NordVPN ad. Every tech channel. Every gaming channel. Hell, even cooking channels are sponsored by NordVPN.

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So you start wondering: If the product is so good, why do they need to advertise this much?

That’s the question HackerNews users have been asking since 2019. And it’s a fair question.

Here’s the uncomfortable truth: NordVPN spends millions on marketing because it works. Not because the product is bad. Not because they’re desperate. Because aggressive marketing makes money.

Let me break down what’s actually happening.

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The Influencer Sponsorship Model

Data summary: Analyzed marketing discussions from HackerNews and Reddit. NordVPN’s affiliate program offers 30-40% recurring commissions. Influencers earn more from VPN sponsorships than from AdSense. Heavy advertising doesn’t correlate with product quality—it correlates with profit margins.

NordVPN pays YouTubers to promote them. That’s not a secret. Every sponsored video says “This video is sponsored by NordVPN.”

How much do they pay? Nobody knows exactly. But based on industry standards, a channel with 1 million subscribers can charge $10,000-$50,000 per sponsored video.

NordVPN sponsors hundreds of channels. Do the math.

“I can’t help but notice that NordVPN is one of the most heavily advertised VPNs from what I’ve seen (which raises the question: why do they need to advertise so much?)” — HackerNews user

That’s the vibe. Not “they’re definitely bad.” More like “something feels off.”

But here’s the thing: Advertising budget doesn’t tell you anything about product quality.

Coca-Cola spends billions on ads. Does that make Coke bad? No. It makes Coke profitable enough to afford billions in ads.

Same logic applies to NordVPN. They advertise heavily because they can afford it. And they can afford it because people buy it. And people buy it because… the marketing works.

It’s a loop. Not a conspiracy.

The Affiliate Commission Game

Here’s what most people don’t know: NordVPN’s affiliate program pays 30-40% recurring commissions.

What does that mean? If you sign up for a $83 two-year plan through an affiliate link, the person who referred you gets $25-$33. And they keep getting paid every time you renew.

That’s why every tech blog, every “VPN comparison” site, and every YouTuber recommends NordVPN. It’s not (always) because it’s the best. It’s because it pays the most.

“NordVPN is being recommended a lot to people who don’t know better by influencers on social media, especially on YouTube.” — HackerNews comment

Is that shady? Depends on your perspective.

If the influencer genuinely uses NordVPN and thinks it’s good, then it’s just smart business. They’re getting paid to recommend something they’d recommend anyway.

If the influencer has never used NordVPN and is just reading a script for money, then yeah, that’s shady.

The problem is: You can’t tell which is which.

Does Heavy Marketing Mean the Product Is Bad?

No. It just means they have money to spend on marketing.

Think about it: If NordVPN was genuinely terrible, people would cancel. Word would spread. The business would collapse.

But NordVPN has been around since 2012. They’ve got millions of users. They’ve survived a data breach in 2019 and came out stronger.

That doesn’t happen if the product is garbage.

Here’s what heavy marketing actually tells you:

• They have high profit margins (otherwise they couldn’t afford the ads)
• They’re focused on growth (not just retention)
• They’re competing in a crowded market (VPNs are commoditized)

What it doesn’t tell you:

• Whether the product is good
• Whether it’s better than competitors
• Whether it’s worth the price

Those are separate questions. And you can’t answer them by looking at ad spend.

The “No Advertising = More Trustworthy” Myth

Some people think VPNs that don’t advertise are more trustworthy. Mullvad and IVPN are often cited as examples.

The logic goes: “They don’t need to advertise because they’re so good. Word of mouth is enough.”

That’s… not how business works.

Mullvad and IVPN don’t advertise because they’re small. They don’t have the budget. If they had NordVPN’s revenue, they’d probably advertise too.

Not advertising doesn’t make you more trustworthy. It just makes you less visible.

And less visibility means fewer users. And fewer users means less revenue. And less revenue means less money for infrastructure, audits, and development.

So the “no advertising = better” argument cuts both ways.

What You Should Actually Care About

Forget the marketing. Here’s what actually matters:

1. Does it work? Can you stream Netflix? Can you torrent without getting DMCA notices? Does it stay connected?
2. Is it fast? Are you getting 60-80% of your base speed, or are you stuck at 20%?
3. Is the no-logs policy real? Has it been audited? Has it been tested in court?
4. Does it fit your threat model? Are you hiding from your ISP, or are you hiding from a government? Different use cases need different solutions.

Those are the questions that matter. Not “why do they advertise so much?”

Bottom line: Judge NordVPN on what it does, not on how much it spends on ads. If it works for your use case, buy it. If it doesn’t, don’t. The marketing is irrelevant. Try NordVPN here.

The Real Red Flags (That Aren’t Advertising)

If you want to be skeptical of NordVPN, here are the things you should actually worry about:

• The 2019 breach. One server got hacked. They didn’t disclose it for months. That’s a real problem.
• Ownership opacity. NordVPN is owned by Nord Security, which is owned by… it’s not entirely clear. Some people don’t like that.
• Aggressive upselling. They push you toward Plus/Complete/Prime tiers even when Basic is enough. That’s annoying.
• Jurisdiction. They’re based in Panama, which is good for privacy but bad for legal recourse if something goes wrong.

Those are legitimate concerns. “They advertise too much” is not.

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FAQs

Why does NordVPN advertise so much?

Because it’s profitable. They have high margins and aggressive growth targets. Heavy advertising is a business strategy, not a red flag.

Are YouTubers paid to promote NordVPN?

Yes. NordVPN sponsors hundreds of channels. Influencers also earn affiliate commissions (30-40% recurring) when viewers sign up through their links.

Does heavy advertising mean NordVPN is bad?

No. It just means they have money to spend on marketing. Product quality and ad spend aren’t correlated.

Are VPNs that don’t advertise more trustworthy?

Not necessarily. They might just have smaller budgets. Lack of advertising doesn’t prove trustworthiness—audits, court cases, and user reports do.

Should I trust influencer VPN recommendations?

Be skeptical. Many influencers are paid to promote VPNs they’ve never used. Look for independent reviews and technical audits instead.

Is NordVPN worth it despite the marketing?

Depends on your use case. If it works for streaming, torrenting, or basic privacy, yes. If you need high-stakes anonymity, consider alternatives like Mullvad or self-hosted solutions.