- NordVPN faces 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 NordVPN, has been hit by another class action lawsuit in the United States.
The lawsuit, filed on April 10, 2026 in the state of Virginia, accuses the cybersecurity giant of “illegal, unfair and deceptive” practices regarding its automatic renewal prices, arguing that said system “intentionally” and “excessively” makes it difficult for users to cancel their subscriptions.
While the lawsuit is on behalf of plaintiff Craig Schnappinger, the class action lawsuit seeks to represent all Nord Security customers in Virginia and North Carolina who have used Nord’s services. These include its virtual private network (NordVPN), password manager (NordPass), and encrypted cloud storage (NordLocker).
Auto-renewing pricing systems are popular in the subscription services industry in general. In fact, most VPN services adopt similar practices, apart from a few exceptions like Mullvad and Windscribe.
NordVPN (and a few other names, including Surfshark and ExpressVPN) have been the subject of similar legal action in recent years.
Between 2024 and 2025, Nord Security received at least four complaints for similar reasons. In 2026, we find details of at least two more class action lawsuits filed against the company: one in March and another in February.
What the lawsuit against Nord Security is about
Wise Law Firm, PLC, Bryson, Harris, Suciu, & Demay, PLLC and Wittels McInturff Palikovic are the law firms behind the class action lawsuit against NordVPN SA and Tefincom SA d/b/a NordVPN.
The main allegation is that Nord Security can use deceptive billing with “negative opt-ins” and “dark patterns” (manipulative website designs) to “trap” consumers into “unwanted, expensive” and auto-renewing subscriptions, according to the class action lawsuit.
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 run counter to both the Virginia Consumer Protection Law and the North Carolina Automatic Renewal Law.
The complaint also questions Nord Security’s practice of charging users 14 days before the subscription expires, arguing that the warning email does not explain that users must cancel the recurring subscription 14 days before that date to avoid being charged.
Plaintiff Craig Schnappinger, the lawsuit alleges, was charged with unwanted renewals in 2023, 2024 and 2025 because he allegedly had difficulty figuring 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, along with damages of at least $100 million.
NordVPN’s response
We asked Nord Security for a response, but it said it could not comment on all of the specific allegations contained in the complaint, considering them to be a matter of active litigation.
However, the company argues, last year the courts completely dismissed two complaints previously filed in North Carolina. TechRadar was unable to verify this claim.
Regarding billing and auto-renewal practices, NordVPN privacy advocate Laura Tyrylyte told TechRadar that the company has been “very clear” about the recurring nature of its services.
“Subscription terms, including automatic renewal, are clearly presented to users at the time of purchase. We also send charge reminders to customers with long-term recurring subscriptions 30 days before renewal, giving them complete clarity and ample opportunity to manage their subscription,” Tyrylyte said.
Tyrylyte also added that the team is “committed to making account management, including cancellation, easy for our users.”
When asked if NordVPN’s February update to its terms and conditions was a direct consequence of previous lawsuits over dark patterns, Tyrylyte said: “These updates are part of our ongoing commitment to providing customers with clear, accessible information about our services and complying with regulatory requirements.”
Tyrylyte concluded by highlighting that Nord Security “takes its legal obligations seriously and believes its practices comply with applicable consumer protection laws.”
NordVPN users can check how much time they have left on their subscriptions by heading to the app’s Account menu.
We also have more detailed information on how to cancel NordVPN and get a refund, where possible.
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