Well, that escalated quickly. NordVPN just pulled off one of the fastest reversals in recent VPN history, announcing that MeshNet will stick around after all. If you’re wondering why this matters, let’s back up a bit.
Last month, we covered NordVPN’s app redesign, where they ditched the world map interface. Buried in that update was also a brief mention about MeshNet shutting down, which was highlighted by multiple other outlets too. The reason? Low usage and high maintenance costs, according to Nord (their blog post is now deleted).
Turns out, they seriously underestimated how much people actually cared about it. Over the past few weeks, the backlash has been loud and consistent. Users flooded Reddit threads, canceled subscriptions, and made it clear that MeshNet wasn’t just some niche toy — it was often the reason they chose NordVPN over competitors. People use it for everything from accessing home servers remotely to setting up secure gaming sessions with friends.
So on September 29, Nord posted a blog essentially saying “our bad, we’re keeping it.” According to their update, they heard the feedback and realized MeshNet’s value goes beyond simple cost-benefit calculations. The feature started as an experiment to give their community something different, and apparently that experiment still has legs.
But this isn’t even the most interesting part. Nord isn’t just keeping MeshNet alive; they’re open-sourcing it. That means developers can peek under the hood, contribute improvements, or even build their own tools on top of it. It’s a move that actually addresses one of their original concerns about development friction while potentially expanding MeshNet’s appeal.
The Reddit community response has been overwhelmingly positive. Many users who jumped ship to alternatives like Tailscale are already planning to return. Some are even calling it a “huge W” for Nord and customers alike.
Whether this was a genuine misstep or (as some Reddit users suspect) a calculated PR move to drum up goodwill, the outcome is the same: MeshNet stays, and Nord looks like a company that actually listens.
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Dwayne Cubbins
1343 Posts
For nearly a decade, I've been deciphering the complexities of the tech world, with a particular passion for helping users navigate the ever-changing tech landscape. From crafting in-depth guides that unlock your phone's hidden potential to uncovering and explaining the latest bugs and glitches, I make sure you get the most out of your devices. And yes, you might occasionally find me ranting about some truly frustrating tech mishaps.
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