The free device-to-device networking tool will be removed from all NordVPN apps; the company urges users to plan migrations and suggests NordLocker for secure file sharing.
NordVPN will discontinue its Meshnet feature on December 1, 2025, ending support for the free tool that let customers link devices into a private, encrypted network for activities like secure file transfer, remote access, and gaming. NordVPN said the change will not affect the rest of its VPN service and asked users who rely on Meshnet to begin transitioning to alternatives.
What’s changing:
- End date: Meshnet will be fully shut down on Dec. 1, 2025. After that, device linking, routing traffic through other devices, and personal mesh networks will no longer work.
- Scope: This is a feature retirement only; NordVPN’s core VPN apps continue to function as usual.
Background & how Meshnet worked:
Introduced in 2022, Meshnet was bundled free in NordVPN’s apps on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS. It allowed users to link multiple devices—your own and invited external devices—into a secure, direct network for file sharing or collaboration, and to reroute traffic through another device (useful for remote access and certain multiplayer scenarios). A NordVPN explainer notes typical limits of up to 10 of your own devices and up to 50 external devices connected to a Meshnet.
Why NordVPN is turning it off:
In a service-update post, NordVPN said Meshnet “didn’t reach a wide enough audience,” and that the ongoing resources needed to support and develop it would be better directed to improvements most customers use daily—speed, security and VPN features.
Migration guidance & recommended alternatives:
NordVPN advises users to “prepare and plan ahead” so existing workflows aren’t disrupted. For secure file sharing specifically, the company recommends NordLocker, its end-to-end encrypted cloud storage app, which has a free 3GB plan and paid tiers. For other virtual networking scenarios, NordVPN points to third-party mesh networking solutions available on the market.
Context: refocusing on core security and access
The retirement comes as NordVPN leans into upgrades aligned with traditional VPN priorities:
- Post-quantum encryption (PQE): Rolled out across all applications in May 2025 to harden long-term confidentiality against future quantum attacks.
- NordWhisper protocol: Introduced in January 2025 to connect from restricted networks that block conventional VPN traffic.
Why it matters
- Users depending on Meshnet need a plan. If you use it for direct device access, ad-hoc collaboration, or traffic routing, your setup will stop working after Dec. 1, 2025. Evaluate whether encrypted cloud sharing (e.g., NordLocker) or a dedicated mesh/VPN overlay best fits your use case.
- NordVPN’s roadmap is tightening around privacy and reachability. PQE and NordWhisper indicate a push toward data protection and censorship/work-network evasion, the two capabilities most customers buy VPNs for.
What’s next/practical steps
- Inventory your Meshnet uses (file sharing, remote access, routing). Note every device and workflow that relies on it.
- Choose replacements:
- File sharing/backups: Try NordLocker (3GB free) or another zero-knowledge cloud provider.
- Private overlay networks / remote access: Evaluate reputable mesh/SD-WAN alternatives (e.g., solutions akin to ZeroTier) that replicate peer-to-peer topology.
- Migrate gradually: Run the new setup in parallel with Meshnet before December to avoid downtime.
Quick facts
- Feature: NordVPN Meshnet (free, built-in)
- Launched: 2022
- End of life: Dec. 1, 2025
- Impacted functions: Device linking, traffic routing via other devices, personal mesh networks
- Supported platforms (historically): Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS
- Capacity reference: up to 10 own devices + 50 external in one mesh (per NordVPN docs)
- Suggested alternative: NordLocker (free 3GB tier) for encrypted file sharing
Sources:
Reader Q&A
Will my NordVPN app stop working?
No. Only Meshnet is being removed; the VPN service continues unchanged.
What exactly disappears on December 1, 2025?
The ability to link devices into a personal mesh, route traffic through another device, and use Meshnet-based remote access/file sharing.
Is there a NordVPN-built replacement?
For file sharing, NordVPN suggests NordLocker. For network-style meshes, the company points to third-party solutions.
Why retire a free feature?
NordVPN says Meshnet never reached a large audience, and the engineering/support load is better spent on core VPN improvements.
What improvements is NordVPN focusing on instead?
Recent moves include post-quantum encryption across apps and the NordWhisper protocol for connecting from restrictive networks.
Closing summary:
NordVPN’s decision to sunset Meshnet on Dec. 1, 2025, marks a strategy shift toward traditional VPN fundamentals—privacy, performance, and accessibility in hostile networks. Users who rely on Meshnet should line up replacements now, with NordLocker and third-party mesh tools among the clearest landing spots.