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PrivadoVPN is a virtual private network (VPN) that offers best free VPN service designed to provide users with secure and private internet access. They’re one of the newer players on the block, having been established only in 2019.
PrivadoVPN offers a range of features including no-log policies, multiple server locations, and high-speed connections, making it a valuable tool for maintaining online privacy and security. This article delves into the specifics of PrivadoVPN, exploring its key features, benefits, and how it compares to other VPN services in the market.
PrivadoVPN Review: Quick Expert Summary
PrivadoVPN excels at speed and security, but lacks a little bit when it comes to transparency and streaming support. Performance on WireGuard is excellent, and PrivadoVPN’s Control Tower is comprehensive. But, some popular streaming sites aren’t supported, and it lacks an independent audit.
- Control Tower: PrivadoVPN’s Control Tower is its killer feature, a collection of security features that’s comprehensive and allows full control over your internet connection.
- Strict No-Log Policy: Ensures complete anonymity by not tracking or storing users’ online activities.
- Advanced Encryption: Uses AES-256 encryption to secure internet traffic and protect data from threats.
- Device Compatibility: Supports a wide range of platforms, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and routers.
- Good Free Plan: 10 Gb a month free plan is fairly
- High-Speed Connections: Provides fast and stable connections suitable for streaming, gaming, and large downloads.
- Simultaneous Connections: Supports up to 10 simultaneous connections.
On the whole, PrivadoVPN excels in certain areas, but faces a few issues in others. It does what it says it will do on the tin, all while providing top quality protection from common online threats. There are also other caveats in place when it comes to PrivadoVPN’s OpenVPN performance, and the fact it still hasn’t had an independent audit to verify its no-log policy.
These shortcomings round out the PrivadoVPN’s downsides, and between its strengths and affordability, it’s a good option. It may not be as well-rounded as certain offerings from other companies, but its advantages allow it to stand out from the crowd. While some streaming services don’t work properly, PrivadoVPN is a young company, and thus it’s highly likely we’ll see improvements soon.
PrivadoVPN Full Review
PrivadoVPN is a Switzerland-based VPN provider known for its strong commitment to privacy and security. They boast robust safety features like a kill switch and AES-256 encryption. However, they also don’t seem to offer much else in the way of features. So, let’s dive into the full review to find out if PrivadoVPN is worth your money.
PrivadoVPN Quick Specification Rundown:
| Server Count | Not Disclosed |
| Server Countries | 49 Countries |
| Base Location | Switzerland |
| Max Device Count | 10 |
| Supported Protocols | WireGuard, OpenVPN, IKEv2 |
| Key Features | WireGuard Protocol, Kill Switch, Wide Device Support, |
| Customer Support Options | Knowledgebase, Live Chat Support, Email Support |
| Supported Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Routers |
While PrivadoVPN certainly showcases good performance in certain aspects, it falls short in others. Wide install-bases are great and all, but we’re not particularly happy that PrivadoVPN haven’t disclosed their server count. Otherwise, things looks pretty standard so far.
PrivadoVPN Features
PrivadoVPN doesn’t offer too many notable unique features over its competition. What is here however, are generally useful features that are always appreciated in a VPN. We’ve made a short rundown of these features below.
- Control Tower – PrivadoVPN’s Control Tower is like a Swiss Army knife for your online security needs. It’s an all-encompassing suite of security features that’s easy to use, even if you’re not tech-savvy, and integrates seamlessly with the PrivadoVPN service.
- WireGuard – WireGuard is designed for high performance, offering faster speeds compared to older VPN protocols like OpenVPN. It achieves this by using state-of-the-art cryptographic algorithms and a leaner codebase, and it’s always a plus when a VPN supports it as the standard.
- AES-256 Encryption – AES is a symmetric encryption algorithm adopted by the U.S. government and widely accepted worldwide for protecting classified information and securing data in transit. AES-256 specifically uses a 256-bit encryption key, which is the largest key size available for AES.
- Kill Switch – PrivadoVPN offers a kill switch is a safety mechanism that automatically halts internet traffic from entering or leaving your device if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly. It’s a standard feature that most VPNs worth their salt already offer, but it’s always good to see.
- Multi-Platform Support – Multi-platform support in a VPN is essential because it ensures that the VPN can be used seamlessly across different devices and operating systems. With multi-platform support, users can maintain the same level of security and privacy on all their devices. This is crucial for protecting sensitive information, especially when switching between devices.
- Generous Free Package – PrivadoVPN’s free package is surprisingly good, with a 10GB monthly data cap and most of the features you’d want from the VPN. While limited server options aren’t great, it’s difficult to argue against a free service.
- Competitive Pricing – Even outside of the free package, PrivadoVPN’s prices are very competitive next to their competitors.
With PrivadoVPN’s Control Tower, the combination of features makes for a reliable and reasonably priced VPN service. What will decide whether PrivadoVPN is worth using will come down to its performance, privacy and ease of use, so we’ll need to dig deeper to find out more.
PrivadoVPN Privacy & Security
First off, it’s important to note that PrivadoVPN is based in Switzerland, known for its stringent data protection regulations, providing an extra layer of privacy for users. Other impressive features include DNS leak protection, ensuring that your DNS requests are routed through the VPN and not exposed to your ISP.
PrivadoVPN has a strict no-log policy, which means they do not record, store, or track any of your online activities. This ensures that your browsing history, connection times, and data usage remain private and cannot be accessed or shared with third parties. Of course, the caveat here is that there’s no third-party audit, so the only proof we have of this is their word.
When it comes to security, PrivadoVPN uses AES-256 encryption, one of the most secure encryption standards available. This ensures that your internet traffic is protected from hackers, cybercriminals, and other malicious entities. There’s also a kill switch built in to prevent any data from being exposed if the VPN connection is interrupted.
PrivadoVPN also features the Control Tower, a comprehensive suite of security features that intend to make your online life a lot more safe and stress-free. There’s an ad blocker that effectively eliminates pesky ads, a malware blocker that scans, and a crypto scam blocker, identifying and blocking fraudulent crypto schemes to protect your investments.
The suite also includes a phishing blocker to safeguard your personal information from phishing attacks, and a ransomware blocker to prevent malicious software from encrypting your data. For people with kids, Control Tower offers powerful parental controls, allowing parents to block websites with suggestive content, thus protecting their kids from inappropriate material online.
Does PrivadoVPN Keep Logs?
PrivadoVPN claims to have a strict no-logs policy, as we’ve already mentioned previously. Everything you do will not be logged, meaning your browsing history is never recorded. It’s also based in Switzerland, meaning there’s a more stringent focus on privacy and security. However, do also keep in mind that none of this has been independently audited.
Independent audits are crucial for building trust with users. They verify that the VPN service is adhering to its stated policies, such as no-log commitments. Without these audits, users have to take the company’s claims at face value, which is why we understand if you may be skeptical of PrivadoVPN’s claims.
PrivadoVPN Speed & Performance
PrivadoVPN offers impressive speeds of up to 880Mbps via WireGuard, which is excellent. This makes it technically ideal for high-bandwidth activities such as 4K streaming, online gaming, and large file transfers. Its efficiency and speed make it an excellent choice for users needing high performance without compromising on security.
PrivadoVPN Protocol Speed Comparison
| PrivadoVPN Protocol | Peak Speed |
| WireGuard | 880Mbps |
| OpenVPN | 130Mbps |
This all changes when we talk about PrivadoVPN’s OpenVPN speeds however, peaking at a measly 130Mbps. While these speeds are sufficient for most online activities, they lag behind the competition like NordVPN and even the relatively slow ProtonVPN. If you have no use for OpenVPN and are sticking to WireGuard, then PrivadoVPN fits you, but otherwise it’s not great.
PrivadoVPN Servers & IP Addresses
PrivadoVPN’s lack of transparency continues in regards to their server count, as they do not disclose this information. Knowing the number of servers a VPN provider operates helps build trust with users. Transparency about server infrastructure indicates that the company is open and honest about its capabilities and resources.
A higher number of servers generally means better load distribution, which can lead to more consistent and faster connection speeds. Without this information, users cannot gauge how well PrivadoVPN can handle high traffic volumes or peak usage times. We at least do know they have servers in 49 different countries, though it still doesn’t take away from the prior disappointment.
PrivadoVPN Streaming Support
PrivadoVPN is compatible with most major streaming services and provides more support than any other free VPN.
Their VPN service has been optimized further, particularly for streaming support. They have recently added new German and Austrian services, while maintaining robust support for Netflix, BBC, Hulu, and Disney+.
On the plus side however, because of PrivadoVPN’s high WireGuard speeds, streaming is smooth and fast.
PrivadoVPN Torrenting Support
PrivadoVPN supports peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing on all its servers, making it convenient for users who frequently download or share files using torrent networks. However, PrivadoVPN does not support port forwarding, and the average bitrate for P2P file sharing with PrivadoVPN is around 8 MiB/s which is a little slower than some competitors.
We will also note that PrivadoVPN offers SOCKS5 functionality to premium users here. SOCKS5 is a protocol that routes network traffic through a proxy server, adding an extra layer of security for users. It’s especially helpful in torrenting as it can provide faster speeds while hiding the user’s IP address, though we didn’t really notice any substantial improvement despite this.
PrivadoVPN Gaming Support
On their website, PrivadoVPN drops some technical jargon to claim they’re great for gamers. With servers in 49 countries, you’ll need to first check if you PrivadoVPN has a server near you before committing to a decision. If you have a server near you, you’ll find the WireGuard speeds are more than enough to ensure a smooth and relatively bump free gaming experience.
However, if there isn’t a server that’s geographically close to you, then you might want to skip PrivadoVPN. Because we don’t know the exact number of servers, it’s challenging to gauge the network’s capacity to handle large volumes of traffic, which could affect gaming performance during peak times.
PrivadoVPN Bypassing Censorship
PrivadoVPN does not prominently feature advanced obfuscation techniques designed to disguise VPN traffic as regular internet traffic. This can be crucial in heavily censored regions where VPN traffic is actively blocked. Despite this, our testing has shown that PrivadoVPN works well in heavily censored countries like China, Cuba & Russia.
These countries are known for their strict internet censorship and surveillance practices. A VPN that works in these regions allows users to bypass government-imposed firewalls and access the global internet freely, providing uncensored information and communication channels. If safety and surveillance are your concerns, then PrivadoVPN is a solid choice.
PrivadoVPN Plans & Pricing
One of PrivadoVPN’s biggest boons is its competitive pricing. PrivadoVPN’s annual plan at $2.99 per month is competitively priced compared to other VPN providers, and the biannual plan at $1.99 per month is a ludicrously fantastic deal. The monthly plan however will set you back at $10.99, not exactly the cheapest around.
Of particular note is PrivadoVPN’s free plan, which is fairly impressive considering it costs nothing at all. The free plan comes with a 10 GB data cap, which is generous compared to some other free VPN offerings. You do miss out on features like SOCKS5 proxies, you get limited server locations and can only connect one device at once, but it’s great for testing the waters.
PrivadoVPN Plans and Pricing
| Package Type | Monthly | 1-Year Plan | 2-Year Plan |
| PrivadoVPN | $10.99/month | $44.85/ year ($2.99/month) | $53.73 ($1.99/month) |
Does PrivadoVPN Have A Free Trial?
There is no “free trial,” as PrivadoVPN instead elects to simply offer a free package that functions identically to a free trial. The free plan includes a 10 GB monthly data allowance, only one simultaneous connection and allows you to connect to a more limited option of servers. Still, for a free package, it’s surprisingly generous and great for testing the service.
PrivadoVPN Ease of Use
Installation is as simple as practically any other VPN, there isn’t too much to point out here. On desktop, installation is as simple as downloading and installing the exe file. The same applies for MacOS and Linux, it’s a point and click affair. Over on mobile meanwhile, all you need to do is go to your respective app store and download.
When it comes to using PrivadoVPN, it features a clean and intuitive interface that makes it easy for users to understand and navigate. The main dashboard typically displays essential information like server locations, connection status, and current IP address. Connecting to a server is a simple one-click affair, it’s quite streamlined.
We really have nothing to complain about with PrivadoVPN’s ease of use and performance in 2024. The applications are well-designed on both desktop and mobile, being immediately intuitive and easy to understand. It’s overall quite good in this regard.
We’d also like to point out the wide device install-base here. Just about any digital device under the sun, from desktops to gaming consoles, can support PrivadoVPN. It’s impressive to see, and we’d love to see other VPNs follow in their footsteps in this regard.
PrivadoVPN Customer Support
PrivadoVPN comes with the standard customer support options like email, live chat and a knowledgebase. The knowledgebase and FAQ is unfortunately not all too comprehensive, missing out on a fair amount of information. This makes sense, considering PrivadoVPN is relatively new. Thankfully, email and live chat work well, and the customer service is helpful with solving issues.
Is PrivadoVPN Good in 2024?
While PrivadoVPN offers a competitively priced option, it has a few shortcomings. Between the lack of transparency and the issues with many popular streaming services, it’s understandable some may see deal breakers in the package. The biggest selling points however are its WireGuard speeds, affordability, ability to bypass censorship in strict countries and powerful security tools.
With the free package being so generous, it’s worth giving PrivadoVPN a shot if you’re on the fence. It’s also important to note that PrivadoVPN is young, and are consistently adding new features and fixing things that didn’t work. It’s highly likely that the few issues listed here will be fixed soon. In this case, it’s not difficult to suggest PrivadoVPN to users looking for a good VPN option.
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