News
- Klarna has partnered with NordVPN to include a free VPN subscription
- Only Klarna Premium and Max members can redeem one NordVPN plan
- The perk is bundled into existing memberships
Buy now, pay later giant Klarna has a new perk for its paying members, and this one is all about your privacy.
The company has partnered with NordVPN to add encrypted connectivity as an included benefit for Klarna Memberships subscribers, folding a digital security tool into a subscription that was previously focused on cashback, travel protection, and lifestyle rewards.
It's the latest example of a payments company bundling in one of the best VPN services as a membership sweetener, and it follows hot on the heels of NordVPN's tie-up with Mastercard earlier this year, as well as other collaborations with companies such as CrowdStrike and Marvel.
The idea is simple. If you already have a Klarna membership, you can now activate a NordVPN subscription at no extra cost. Which tier you get depends on your membership level.
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What the Klarna and NordVPN partnership involvesThe structure is tied directly to Klarna's membership tiers.
Klarna Premium members will receive access to NordVPN Basic, while Klarna Max members will receive access to NordVPN Complete, both included within their existing membership subscription.
It's worth mentioning that at the time of writing (August 10, 2026), Klarna's membership page wrongly indicates that the perk for Max users is NordVPN Standard — described as "secure VPN access with enhanced security features". A NordVPN spokesperson clarifies to TechRadar that the company actually meant its Complete plan.
Regarding the partnership, NordVPN argues that VPN protection has become relevant infrastructure for both professionals and consumers, supporting secure connections on public and shared networks, such as those found in coffee shops, airports, and hotels.
Klarna describes the move as part of a strategy focused on offering tangible, valuable benefits at scale, giving members more control over aspects of their digital activity, and positioning its memberships to compete on overall value.
How to claim your free NordVPN subscriptionBecause the VPN is bundled into your Klarna membership, the first step is simply making sure you're on an eligible tier (Premium or Max).
With NordVPN's comparable Mastercard partnership, once users activate their NordVPN subscription, the service asks them to set up their Nord account and download the NordVPN app. We can likely expect the Klarna flow to follow the same rough path: confirm eligibility, activate the benefit, create or sign in to a Nord Account, then install the app on your devices.
If you're unsure whether your specific plan includes the perk, it's worth checking directly with Klarna, since availability can vary by region and membership level. Once it's live, you'll have the full NordVPN app to set up across your phone, laptop, and other devices.
NordVPN Basic vs NordVPN Complete: what's includedWhile users can use both plans on up to 10 devices simultaneously, features offered slightly differ.
As the name suggests, NordVPN Basic is the entry-level tier, and the main feature is the virtual private network (VPN) itself, using the same core software found across every NordVPN plan.
You get access to all NordVPN's server network — 211 locations in 135 countries— which TechRadar's reviewers found to be larger than any rival we test. You also get NordVPN's fast, secure NordLynx protocol, a reliable kill switch, and post-quantum encryption already baked in.
Basic also includes NordVPN's standard Threat Protection — now known as NordVPN's next-gen antivirus suite — which filters your traffic through NordVPN's DNS servers to block ads and malicious sites.
NordVPN Complete expands on Threat Protection's reach by adding real-time anti-malware and file scanning. The plan also bundles premium access to its password manager tool (NordPass) and 1TB of encrypted NordLocker cloud storage.
- Amazon revealed plans to build Gilroy, California data center were first submitted in 2020
- Gilroy citizens have accused the city council of inadequate communications concerning the development
- The 438,500-square-foot data center occupies a 56-acre chunk of farmland 30 miles south of San Jose
Citizens of Gilroy, California, have expressed dismay at the building of an Amazon data center, which they say they were not informed of - and when one resident attempted to lodge a complaint, she was told that comments on the plans were closed in 2024 – long before most citizens were even aware of the planned installation.
Occupying a 56-acre area of farmland between a Walmart and a local shopping center, the Amazon project appears to have been quietly pushed through using obfuscation and clever use of 45-year-old planning laws.
Amazon has apparently made provision to divert wastewater to the data center, and donated money for local spending. Meanwhile, the city mayor has responded to the concerns by likening the water-and power-hungry Amazon data center to a food distribution center that was also recently approved.
Opposition and sponsorshipsUtilizing the old city zoning rule – originally intended for industrial development along a freeway – has enabled the data center to proceed into full development without planning scrutiny from residents. However, the apparent collaboration between Amazon and the Gilroy city council and mayor has not gone unnoticed, with opposition organized against the project.
One of those organizers, 21-year-old college student Landon Sepulveda, indicated to the Wall Street Journal that there was a trust issue between the population and the city administrators. “These processes were not enough for the citizens of Gilroy to do anything about it. We’ve elected them to tell us, and we shouldn’t have to watch over their shoulders.”
Another citizen, elementary school teacher Coleen Crew, told a recent council meeting “Many if not most residents first learned about this project after construction had already begun.”
Amazon and the Gilroy council have been at pains to highlight the advantages of the deal, citing jobs, tax revenue, and that solution to concerns over water use. Amazon has also donated $1 million for a new city fire truck, and donated money to non-profits and the city’s annal Gilroy Garlic Festival.
Mayor Bozzo and AWSResponding to public dismay over the development, Mayor Greg Bozzo has highlighted an “opportunity to change the way that we do business in Gilroy. We’re adapting to the times.”
Meanwhile, Amazon Web Services’ VP of economic development Roger Wehner claims the project “followed standard approval processes.” He added: “We’ve since met directly with residents and hosted an open house to hear feedback and answer questions.”
The challenges and advantages of data centers seem to be the modern day equivalent of opposition to nuclear plants from 50 years ago. While the data center’s continued construction seems inevitable, and Amazon has made some generous provisions, it is disappointing that the city’s residents were not informed of the development – and that might be the biggest problem here.
The Big Bang Theory's Bernadette as a demon is something I didn't think I'd ever see in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe — but, now that I have, it somehow makes complete sense.
Last week's episode saw us meet her in a wizarding world but, in this week's entry we're swapping the magical action for something a little more One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest-coded.
But who, if anyone, really is crazy? And when does Stuart Fails to Save the Universe episode 4 arrive on HBO Max?
What time can I watch Stuart Fails to Save the Universe episode 4 on HBO Max?For US viewers, Stuart Fails to Save the Universe episode 4 will drop on Thursday, August 13 at 6pm PT/ 9pm ET.
Internationally, you're looking out for these timings:
- US – Thursday, August 13 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
- Canada – Thursday, August 13 at 6pm PT / 9pm ET
- UK – Friday, August 14 at 2am BST
- India – Friday, August 14 at 6:30am IST
- Singapore – Friday, August 14 at 9am SGT
- Australia – Friday, August 14 at 11am AEDT
- New Zealand – Friday, August 14 at 12pm NZDT
New episodes of Stuart Fails to Save the Universe will make landfall every Thursday in the US and on Fridays everywhere else. Here are the all-important dates you need to know about:
- Episode 1: out now
- Episode 2: out now
- Episode 3: out now
- Episode 4: August 13
- Episode 5: August 20
- Episode 6: August 27
- Episode 7: September 3
- Episode 8: September 10
- Episode 9: September 17
- Episode 10: September 24


