NordVPN has released the source code for its graphical user interface version of the Linux VPN client. This update to version 4.2.0 builds on the command-line client open-sourced in 2023. The move aims to simplify VPN setup for Linux users.
NordVPN, a Lithuanian-based VPN provider, has open-sourced its Linux graphical user interface (GUI) client under the GPLv3 license. The release covers version 4.2.0 of the client, which was first announced in May 2025. This GUI version complements the existing shell-based command-line interface (CLI), whose source code has been publicly available since 2023.
The GitHub repository for the Linux client was initially established in 2023, alongside the open-sourcing of libtelio, a library for NordVPN's Meshnet encrypted peer-to-peer networks. Prior to this update, the Linux client operated in text mode from a shell prompt. Now, the GUI app provides a more user-friendly option, though only the Linux client is open-sourced—dedicated apps for other desktop and mobile operating systems remain proprietary.
Parts of NordVPN's technology stack incorporate free and open-source software (FOSS) components, such as the WireGuard protocol. To ease installation, NordVPN has added the GUI client to the Snap package, enabling one-command installs and automatic updates on compatible Linux distributions.
Linux users already have alternatives for graphical VPN management, including the NetworkManager stack with GTK and Qt-based GUI applets that support GNOME, KDE Plasma, and other desktops. NordVPN provides instructions for connecting via NetworkManager, but VPN setups can be complex regardless of the tool. This open-sourcing may benefit lighter-weight distributions without default NetworkManager support, making VPN access more accessible.