Nord VPN hit with yet another lawsuit over 'difficult to cancel' auto-renewal subscriptions | Tech Radar
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Nord VPN hit with yet another lawsuit over 'difficult to cancel' auto-renewal subscriptions
The latest 'dark pattern' lawsuit was filed in Virginia earlier in April
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Nord VPN faces yet another lawsuit in the US over auto-renewal pricing
The complaint accuses the firm of using 'dark patterns' to trap users
This is not the first time Nord Security has faced similar legal complaints
Nord Security, the company that develops and operates Nord VPN, has been hit with yet another class-action lawsuit in the US.
The lawsuit — filed on April 10, 2026, in the state of Virginia — accuses the cybersecurity giant of "unlawful, unfair, and deceptive" practices regarding its auto-renewal pricing, arguing that such a system makes it "intentionally" and "exceedingly" difficult for users to cancel their subscriptions.
While the complaint is on behalf of plaintiff Craig Schnappinger, the class-action seeks to represent all Nord Security customers in Virginia and North Carolina who have used Nord's services. These include its virtual private network (Nord VPN), password manager (Nord Pass), and encrypted cloud storage (Nord Locker).
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Auto-renewal pricing systems are popular in the wider subscription service industry. Most VPN services adopt similar practices, in fact, besides a few exceptions such as Mullvad and Windscribe.
Nord VPN —and a few other names, including Surfshark and Express VPN — have been targeted with similar legal actions in the last few years.
Between 2024 and 2025, Nord Security was hit by at least four complaints on similar grounds. In 2026, we found details of at least two more class-action lawsuits filed against the company — one in March and one in February.
Wise Law Firm, PLC, Bryson, Harris, Suciu, & Demay, PLLC, and Wittels Mc Inturff Palikovic are the law firms behind the class action against Nord VPN S. A. and Tefincom SA d/b/a Nord VPN.
The core allegation is that Nord Security may use deceptive "negative option" billing and "dark patterns" (manipulative website designs) to "trap" consumers into "unwanted, pricey," and automatically renewing subscriptions, according to the class action complaint.
Specifically, the law firms accuse Nord Security of failing to clearly disclose the terms of its automatic renewals or how to cancel at the time of enrollment – something that may go against both the Virginia Consumer Protection Act and North Carolina’s Automatic Renewal Law.
The complaint also challenges Nord Security's practice of charging users 14 days before the subscription expires, arguing that the warning email fails to explain that users must cancel the recurring subscription 14 days before that date to avoid being charged.
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Plaintiff Craig Schnappinger, the lawsuit alleges, was charged for unwanted renewals in 2023, 2024, and 2025 because he allegedly struggled to figure out how to cancel these charges.
The lawsuit seeks class certification for affected consumers in Virginia and North Carolina. It also demands an injunction to stop Nord Security's deceptive practices, alongside compensatory damages of at least $100 million.
We asked Nord Security for a response but it said it was unable to comment on all of the specific allegations contained in the complaint, considering they are a matter of active litigation.
However, the company argues, two complaints previously filed in North Carolina were fully dismissed by the courts last year. Tech Radar wasn't able to verify this claim.
About the auto-renewal and billing practices, Privacy Advocate at Nord VPN, Laura Tyrylyte, told Tech Radar that the company has been "very clear" about the recurring nature of its services.
"Subscription terms, including auto-renewal, are clearly presented to users at the point of purchase. We also send charge reminders to customers with long-term recurring subscriptions 30 days in advance of renewal, giving them full clarity and ample opportunity to manage their subscription," said Tyrylyte.
Tyrylyte also added that the team is "committed to making account management, including cancellation, straightforward for our users."
When asked if Nord VPN's February update of its terms and conditions was a direct consequence of previous dark pattern lawsuits, Tyrylyte said: "These updates are part of our ongoing commitment to providing customers with clear and accessible information about our services and meeting regulatory requirements."
Tyrylyte finished by stressing that Nord Security "takes its legal obligations seriously and believes its practices are in compliance with applicable consumer protection laws."
Nord VPN users can check how much time they have left on their subscriptions by heading to the Account menu on the app.
We also have more detailed information on how to cancel Nord VPN and get a refund, where possible.
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Chiara is a multimedia journalist committed to covering stories to help promote the rights and denounce the abuses of the digital side of life – wherever cybersecurity, markets, and politics tangle up. She believes an open, uncensored, and private internet is a basic human need and wants to use her knowledge of VPNs to help readers take back control. She writes news, interviews, and analysis on data privacy, online censorship, digital rights, tech policies, and security software, with a special focus on VPNs, for Tech Radar and Tech Radar Pro. Got a story, tip-off, or something tech-interesting to say? Reach out to chiara.castro@futurenet.com
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