When searching for a reliable VPN for streaming, torrenting, gaming, or overall online protection, PrivateVPN is a strong contender in the competitive market of VPN services.
This smaller Swedish-based VPN provider is not only reasonably priced but also offers top-notch security, military-grade encryption, a no-logs policy, and a Stealth VPN mode, which allows for use even in heavily censored countries.
PrivateVPN is easy to use and set up and offers round-the-clock customer support for anyone who needs a little extra help. It is compatible with all major devices and allows up to 10 simultaneous connections, meeting the needs of most households and even some small businesses.
Given the abundance of VPNs in the market, all vying for the title of the best, we’ve conducted an in-depth PrivateVPN review examining all of its notable features and identifying potential drawbacks to consider when deciding on a VPN service.
Keep reading to find out all the information you need to figure out if PrivateVPN is the right VPN service for you!
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Rating | 7.8 out of 10 |
Rank: | 7 out of 50 VPNs |
Best for: | Best for encryption variety |
Security: | AES 256-bit encryption |
Privacy: | No logs, independently audited by Deloitte |
Price: | As low as $2.00/month |
Servers: | 200+ servers in 63 countries |
Streaming: | Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, (HBO) Max, Hulu, Vudu, and more |
Devices: | Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, and iOS |
Connections: | 10 simultaneous |
Coupons: | Get PrivateVPN Ultimate 3-Year Plan for 85% OFF |
PrivateVPN pros and cons
If you are short on time, here is a brief overview of PrivateVPN, including a list of the VPN services’ pros and cons based on the results of our investigation.
Pros
- Strong security features
- Zero-logs policy
- 10 simultaneous connections
- Works for torrenting
- Unblocks Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, HBO Max, and more
- 24/7 live chat support
- 7-day free trial
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Small server network
- Not independently audited
- WireGuard protocol requires manual setup
- No browser extensions
- Lacks Smart DNS feature
- Doesn’t offer split tunneling
PrivateVPN overview
PrivateVPN offers secure and reliable access to the internet and is a solid choice for anyone looking for an affordable, quality VPN provider.
Private VPN’s security features include customizable encryption options, including the industry gold standard AES-256-bit encryption. In addition, there are several secure VPN protocols for tunneling to choose from, including the OpenVPN UDP and TCP protocols. It does not yet offer the newest and fastest of the tunneling protocols, WireGuard, on their app, but WireGuard can be manually set up on their servers.
When it comes to privacy, PrivateVPN offers a zero-log policy; however, if you want a service located in a privacy-friendly jurisdiction outside the 5/9/14 eyes alliance, you will want to look for an alternative, like ExpressVPN or NordVPN. While PrivateVPN has not put its privacy policy to the test by a third-party auditor, which would be ideal, they’ve got a good track record when it comes to privacy.
PrivateVPN features designed to secure your connection and enhance your online experience include a kill switch, stealth VPN, HTTPS proxies, SOCKS5 proxies, and dedicated IP addresses. PrivateVPN uses private DNS servers to handle all DNS requests to ensure there are no DNS leaks. It does not offer split tunneling as a feature.
PrivateVPN has a small server network of 200+ servers, but PrivateVPN’s server locations are well distributed in 63 countries around the world, so it’s not hard to find a nearby server. Its broad distribution allows you to access a large range of geo-restricted content, similar to VPN providers with a more extensive server network. At no extra cost, PrivateVPN offers dedicated IP addresses in several locations.
When it comes to speed, some decrease in the upload and download speed is to be expected when using a VPN, as the encryption process and travel take a bit of time. Overall, we found the speed on PrivateVPN to be good, with the upload and download speed to be good enough for most online activities with minimal lags.
The small network, however, did, on occasion, lead to a heavy server load, which slowed down the connection speed. For the best download speed, stick with nearby servers, and if you find your connection is slow, it may be due to overcrowding, so try a different server location.
The internet speed with PrivateVPN is fast enough to support smooth streaming, torrenting, and gaming, though it doesn’t offer the same lightning-fast speeds that you get with other premium VPN providers, like ExpressVPN or NordVPN. You’ll get the best speeds when connected to a local server and with the OpenVPN UDP protocol.
There is a PrivateVPN app for all common devices and operating systems, including Windows, Android, macOS, iOS, and Linux. The VPN app layout is similar for all devices, which is intuitive and easy to use even for beginners.
Customer service is available via 24/7 live chat support, email support, articles, and guides, to help you get the most out of our PrivateVPN subscription. They also offer a 7-day free trial, so you can give it a try risk-free.
The price for PrivateVPN varies depending on the subscription plan, beginning at the reasonable cost of $2.00 per month for the 36-month plan. Each plan includes up to 10 simultaneous connections, each with its own IP address. Users can feel comfortable signing up for the lower-cost 36-month plan without risk, as it comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
PrivateVPN pricing & plans
PrivateVPN is a reasonably priced VPN provider with three different subscription plans, which differ only in their cost and duration of service. As with most VPN services, the longer the subscription plan, the lower the cost. Pricing is as follows:
Version | Price |
---|---|
1-month plan | $9.90 per month |
3-month plan | $6.00 per month |
36-month plan | $2.00 per month |
All plans include a 30-day money-back guarantee so you can take advantage of the lower prices without risk since you’ve got time to cancel if it does not meet your needs. Each subscription allows for 10 simultaneous connections and is compatible with Windows, Android, iOS, macOS, and Linux.
PrivateVPN accepts payment via credit card, PayPal, and cryptocurrencies. If you choose to pay by PayPal, there is a 5% handling fee.
Can you get PrivateVPN for free?
Yes. PrivateVPN offers a 7-day free trial that you can sign up for without providing any credit card information, so you don’t have to worry about it automatically turning into a paid subscription plan if you forget to cancel.
In addition, every PrivateVPN subscription plan comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee, which you can use as a free trial. Just cancel your subscription within the 30-day trial period, and you’ll get a full refund on your subscription. Reach out to PrivateVPN’s live chat support to easily cancel and get all of your money back.
Is PrivateVPN safe?
Yes. Our PrivateVPN review included a detailed look at the VPN service’s security and privacy features and we concluded that PrivateVPN has all the tools necessary to keep you safe online, allowing users to browse the web, stream, and torrent with peace of mind using PrivateVPN.
PrivateVPN’s security features include military-level encryption, a selection of secure tunneling protocols, a kill switch, and a no-logs policy. During testing, PrivateVPN was able to effectively mask our real IP address, and it performed well when we conducted a DNS leak test.
Encryption
VPN encryption secures and protects the data transmitted between your device and the VPN server by encoding it and making it unreadable to unauthorized parties, including your internet provider, government agencies, or cybercriminals. There are 4 different types of encryption to choose from with PrivateVPN, including AES-256-CBC, AES-256-GCM, AES-128-CBC, and AES-128-GCM.
In general, the higher the number, the longer the encryption key length is, making it more difficult to hack. GMC and CBC refer to the cipher, with the GMC version using block randomization, which is considered to be more secure.
It is recommended to go to the settings menu and select the AES-256-GCM for your VPN connection to ensure you get the highest level of encryption possible.
Tunneling protocols
Private VPN offers 4 different VPN tunneling protocols to choose from, with the default OpenVPN setting being the fastest and most secure of the options.
OpenVPN UDP is the default PrivateVPN tunneling protocol, offering the fastest speed, though it’s not quite as secure as the OpenVPN TCP protocol.
The OpenVPN TPC protocol is the most secure of the options but won’t offer the same speed that you get when using OpenVPN UDP.
The OpenVPN TAP + UDP is the least secure of the tunneling protocols due to some significant vulnerabilities and is, therefore, not recommended. The TAP functions are vulnerable to hacking from others on the same server, which becomes particularly risky since all servers have port forwarding.
L2TP/IPSec provides a secure VPN connection, though OpenVPN offers a higher level of protection.
PrivateVPN also offers the PPTP tunneling protocol, which is generally considered too outdated to be effective.
At this time, PrivateVPN does not offer the most up-to-date of the tunneling protocols, WireGuard, on its app, which is widely regarded for offering the best speeds and most secure connections. It is anticipated that they will add the WireGuard VPN protocol as an option soon.
While PrivateVPN’s apps don’t support WireGuard, the servers in the network do. If you are tech-savvy, you can set up a manual connection with WireGuard and get the benefits of its significantly faster speeds, as compared to OpenVPN, without compromising on security.
If you want the benefit of WireGuard without needing to manually configure your servers, many of the premium VPNs offer the WireGuard protocol or similar versions of the tunneling protocol, such as ExpressVPN’s Lightway protocol and NordVPN’s Nordlynx.
Kill switch
PrivateVPN’s kill switch is a feature that automatically disconnects your device from the internet if the VPN connection drops unexpectedly, preventing any unencrypted data from being transmitted over the unprotected network and maintaining user privacy and security.
We conducted testing on the PrivateVPN’s kill switch and found that there were no IP addresses or data leaks when the VPN service was disabled.
Once the internet service was cut, there was a notification that the kill switch was enabled and access to that server was blocked. It did not redirect or automatically connect to a different server. To reconnect and regain secure access to the internet, we had to manually select a new server.
The switch is not activated by default, so to protect your connection from accidental leaks, go to the settings menu and navigate to the Connection Guard tab to turn it on.
Logging policy
PrivateVPN states that it maintains a zero-logs policy, which is important given its Swedish jurisdiction. Sweden is part of the 5/9/14 eyes alliance and, therefore, is not considered a privacy-friendly location. It’s also worth noting that their privacy policy includes the following statement:
“The personal data is not saved longer than necessary given the purpose of the processing unless a longer storage time is required or permitted by law.”
While this statement does raise some concerns, PrivateVPN hasn’t been involved in any privacy scandals and has all the security measures needed to protect your online privacy.
Users who want a rock-solid promise of privacy should consider their policy statement and may prefer a VPN service, like ExpressVPN or NordVPN, which have independently audited zero-log policies and privacy-friendly jurisdictions.
Independent audits
PrivateVPN has not undergone an independent, third-party audit, as any other premium VPN companies have done, so users are left to take their word for it when it comes to logging. While this is not ideal, they have a good track record and haven’t been involved in any privacy scandals.
PrivateVPN passed our DNS leak test with no exposure of our real IP address. These testing results, in combination with PrivateVPN’s customized encryption and stealth servers, all offer peace of mind when it comes to online privacy and security.
If you are looking for a more comprehensive audit for your VPN service, many of the premium VPN services have undergone an independent third-party audit, including ExpressVPN and NordVPN, and may be a better option for those seeking the gold standard in privacy protection.
Jurisdiction
PrivateVPN is based in Sweden and is part of the 14-eyes alliance, a multi-nation intelligence alliance that allows for internet surveillance and data sharing when in the interest of national security. This jurisdiction is not ideal for the privacy-conscious; however, PrivateVPN’s no-logs policy and high level of encryption are well-designed to maintain your privacy.
In addition, Sweden is part of the GDRP, effective in the European Union since May 25, 2018. The GDRP are data privacy laws designed to strengthen personal data protection and provide privacy rights to individuals, including access and erasure. Non-compliance can result in significant fines for organizations processing EU residents’ data.
PrivateVPN features
PrivateVPN has a few select features designed to enhance the security of your VPN connection on top of the standard high-level encryption, tunneling protocols, and leak protection that the VPN service provides. These added security measures include port forwarding, HTTP & SOCKS5 proxies, and Stealth VPN.
Port forwarding
Port forwarding is a networking technique that directs data to a designated device within a local network. It optimizes communication for activities like gaming or torrenting by bypassing security features and streamlining data transfer.
The IPVanish port forwarding feature is automatically enabled, assigning a random port number whenever you connect to one of their servers. Since it can’t be turned off, this requires a bit more configuration on your devices and torrent client since you are always getting a new port number.
HTTP & SOCKS 5 proxies
An HTTP proxy is primarily used for web traffic where the server acts as an intermediary between your computer and the internet. It handles your requests and forwards them to the destination server. The HTTP proxy can improve performance by caching frequently requested content or assist in bypassing content restrictions.
SOCKS 5 proxies operate at a more base level than HTTP proxies. Unlike HTTP proxies, SOCKS proxies don’t interpret the traffic; they simply pass it along and assist in tasks like bypassing firewalls, accessing geo-restricted content, and enhancing privacy.
HTTP and SOCKS5 proxies are supported on every PrivateVPN server.
Stealth VPN
Stealth VPN is designed to enhance privacy and security by making the VPN traffic less detectable or identifiable. It works by disguising or obfuscating the VPN traffic to look like ordinary online content, making it more challenging for network administrators, internet service providers (ISPs), or other entities to recognize and block VPN usage.
It is a great tool for bypassing strong government restrictions, like those imposed in China, or getting past the strong geo-blocks on your favorite streaming services like Netflix, BBC iPlayer, and more.
PrivateVPN servers and locations
There are only 200+ servers available in the PrivateVPN network, though the server locations are nicely spread out in 63 countries throughout the world. Here’s a look at how PrivateVPN’s servers are distributed:
- Americas: 23 servers in 9 countries
- Asia Pacific: 16 servers in 13 countries
- Europe: 41 servers in 35 countries
- Middle East/Africa: 5 servers in 5 countries
In addition to PrivateVPN’s servers that are listed above, you can obtain one of PrivateVPN’s dedicated IP servers at no extra cost in select locations. There was no significant difference in speed between the dedicated IP servers and the standard servers, and the dedicated IP servers offer an extra layer of protection, making it more difficult to detect your VPN usage.
How does PrivateVPN work?
PrivateVPN works by sending all of your data through an encrypted tunnel between your device and the PrivateVPN servers, which can’t be deciphered by anyone else. It also routes your traffic through its VPN servers that mask your true IP address, which not only hides your true location from hackers and snoops but also allows you to bypass geo-restrictions and access content from different locations.
IPVanish offers security features such as OpenVPN, IP & DNS leak protection, stealth VPN, port forwarding, and a kill switch to prevent data exposure if the VPN connection drops.
How to install PrivateVPN
Setting up PrivateVPN on your desktop, laptop, or mobile device is easy to do in a matter of just a few minutes. All you’ve got to do is follow these simple steps:
- Select a PrivateVPN plan and purchase a subscription.
- Download the appropriate app for your device.
- Sign in to your PrivateVPN account.
- Connect to a server.
Is PrivateVPN good for streaming?
As part of our PrivateVPN review, we checked how well PrivateVPN was able to get past the geo-blocks on common streaming services and were impressed with the results. We were able to unblock Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, Max, Hulu, Vudu, and more. The speed on PrivateVPN was generally able to support smooth streaming without buffering, pixelation, or dropped connections.
Unfortunately, PrivateVPN recently got rid of its dedicated streaming servers, which meant we sometimes had to switch to a different server to bypass geographical restrictions. For example, if you can’t access US Netflix from an Atlanta server, try connecting to a New York server instead.
While PrivateVPN does not have a Smart DNS feature, it makes up for it by offering an app for Amazon Fire Smart TVs.
If you are looking for a streaming VPN that easily bypasses geo-blocks from all of its servers and offers Smart DNS for broad compatibility with all devices, ExpressVPN, NordVPN, and Surshark are better options.
How to unblock Netflix with PrivateVPN
Not only does PrivateVPN allow you to access geo-restricted content on Netflix libraries around the world, but it also makes it quite simple to do. Just follow these steps:
- Subscribe to PrivateVPN.
- Download the app onto your device.
- Open the app and select a server in the country you require access to.
- Log on to the Netflix website and search for the title!
How to unblock BBC iPlayer with PrivateVPN
IPVanish users can access BBC iPlayer from anywhere in the world by following these simple instructions.
- Select a PrivateVPN plan and purchase a subscription.
- Download the PrivateVPN app onto your device.
- Open the app and connect to a UK server.
- Go to BBC iPlayer and enjoy full access to all of their content.
How to unblock other streaming services with PrivateVPN
Enjoy access to global content on Hulu, Max, Amazon Prime Video, and more without geo-restrictions getting in your way. Here’s how:
- Purchase a subscription to PrivateVPN.
- Install the app on your device.
- Open the app and select a server in your required country, for example, for Hulu choose a USA or Japanese server.
- Log on to the streaming service of your choice and enjoy watching!
Is PrivateVPN good for torrenting?
Yes. PrivateVPN is a good VPN for torrenting. It has dedicated torrenting servers that are designed to work with torrenting clients for P2P file sharing. Plus, the port forwarding feature offers an extra layer of privacy protection while torrenting.
Despite having relatively few specialized servers for torrenting, which can lead to slowdowns from overcrowded servers, PrivateVPN still maintained good speeds for fast downloads. PrivateVPN was able to achieve download speeds of around 120 Mbps, though many factors can play into the download speed, so there was some variability, which is to be expected.
While PrivateVPN did perform well for torrenting, it is worth noting that it does not offer Onion over VPN servers, which provides an extra layer of security by allowing you to access Onion sites using normal web browsers. If you want the added protection of Onion over VPN it is available with ExpressVPN and NordVPN.
Apps and devices: What does PrivateVPN support?
PrivateVPN works with all major operating systems, including Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android apps. The design for all of the PrivateVPN apps is similar and is intuitive to customize and use. There is an activation button right on the home screen, and you can easily change the server location by clicking on the Change button. From there, a list will come up for all server locations, as well as a separate tab for dedicated IP servers.
PrivateVPN does not offer any browser extensions.
Keep reading for more information on each app’s features, strengths, and downsides.
Windows and macOS apps
IPVanish offers desktop apps for both Windows and macOS devices. The apps for Windows and macOS devices are almost the same, with just a few notable differences.
On the Windows app, you can easily set up the main screen for either a simple or advanced view. The simple view lets you select a country and view your connection status, while the advanced view allows you to select your connection type and encryption and provides access to settings for further customization.
One of the things we liked less about the Windows app is that the servers aren’t displayed on the streaming services tab. In addition, the automatic port forwarding feature uses a new port every time you connect, which means you have to reconfigure your router every time. The Windows port forwarding feature can not be disabled.
The macOS app is almost identical to the Windows app; however, it is missing some of the key security features, including DNS leak protection and some of the kill switch features. It also does not work with the PPTP tunneling protocol.
Linux
PrivateVPN does not offer an app for Linux. It is still possible to set up Linux on your computer by using OpenVPN with a line command terminal. While it is more work without an app, PrivateVPN has a detailed guide on how to set it up, and when you are done, PrivateVPN provides its Linux users with secure access to the internet.
iOS and Android apps
PrivateVPN has mobile apps for both iOS and Android devices. The design of the iOS and Android apps is similar to the desktop apps, though not quite as easy to use.
On mobile apps, it is possible to customize a few items, including your tunneling protocol and encryption. You can also switch the port and toggle Stealth VPN.
The Android app includes a built-in kill switch, while the kill switch is not available at all for iOS devices.
Customer support
There are several options available to PrivateVPN subscribers in need of assistance, including:
- 24/7 live chat support
- email support
- Guides and articles
- FAQ
If you are looking to answer questions on your own, PrivateVPN has a comprehensive collection of guides, including detailed, step-by-step instructions in the Get Started section of their home page.
The email support was highly knowledgeable and we received same-day service, which is an impressive turnaround time. Their response to queries was comprehensive and easy to follow.
The 24/7 live chat support is available right on the PrivateVPN website. We found that it was relatively slow to respond, sometimes taking over 10 minutes for an initial response. Once we got a representative on the line from the live chat service, they were able to answer most of our questions, while more complex technical questions were better answered by email support.
FAQ
Is PrivateVPN good?
Yes. PrivateVPN is a good VPN service that offers a secure internet connection as well as dependable service for streaming, torrenting, and gaming online. The Swedish-based company Sollentuna owns PrivateVPN.
Is PrivateVPN safe to use?
Yes. PrivateVPN is a safe VPN. It offers AES-256-bit encryption, a zero-logs policy, DNS leak protection, stealth VPN, port forwarding, HTTPT proxies, and SOCKS5 proxies to keep you safe online.
The only area of concern when it comes to safety is that PrivateVPN has not undergone an independent security audit, and it is based in Sweden, which is part of the 5/9/14 eyes alliance.
Does PrivateVPN work in China?
China places heavy restrictions on VPN usage, so there are no guarantees that PrivateVPN will work in China, but you’ve got a decent chance with PrivateVPN’s Stealth VPN feature. The stealth feature disguises VPN internet traffic to look like regular internet traffic, allowing it to bypass VPN blocks like those used in China and other restrictive countries.
You’ll have the best chance of PrivateVPN working in China if you prepare ahead of time. It’s important to download the PrivateVPN from outside of the country of China, as you won’t be able to get a subscription from inside the country. For the best chance of getting past China’s firewall, enable Stealth VPN on the OpenVPN protocol.
Where is PrivateVPN located?
PrivateVPN is based in Sweden, which is part of the 5/9/14 eyes alliance, making it a less-than-ideal jurisdiction when it comes to privacy protection. The 5/9/14 eyes alliance allows governments to engage in surveillance and data sharing when in the interest of national security.
When it comes to data retention laws, Sweden is part of Europe’s GDPR, which includes data privacy laws that strengthen personal data protection and grant individuals rights like access and erasure.
Does PrivateVPN keep logs?
PrivateVPN offers a no-logs policy; however, their policy also specifically states that “personal data is not saved longer than necessary given the purpose of the processing unless a longer storage time is required or permitted by law.” If you want a fully audited, strict, no-log VPN with RAM-only servers, ExpressVPN and NordVPN may be a better fit.
Does PrivateVPN work with Netflix?
Yes. We were able to use PrivateVPN to unblock geo-restricted Netflix libraries and enjoy a smooth streaming experience. If you find you are having trouble bypassing Netflix’s geographical restrictions or experiencing lags, buffering, or pixelation, try connecting to a different server.
While PrivateVPN does not offer Smart DNS, it does have specific apps that work with Amazon Fire TV so that you can watch your favorite shows right on your smart TV.
Is PrivateVPN good: Conclusion
Overall, PrivateVPN is a dependable VPN service that provides secure and private internet access. You can feel safe knowing you are protected by AES 256-bit encryption, secure VPN protocols, leak protection, a no-logs policy, stealth mode, and more!
PrivateVPN offers good connection speed and is effective for streaming, torrenting, and gaming! Despite its small server network, it offers broad access to content with IP addresses in 63 countries worldwide.
On the downside, PrivateVPN doesn’t come with split tunneling and the PrivateVPN dedicated IP servers are dynamic, meaning you won’t get the same dedicated IP address every time.
When it comes to privacy, we would like to see PrivateVPN’s policy verified by an independent audit, as many other VPN services have done. In addition, PrivateVPN is based in Sweden, which is part of the 5/9/14 eyes alliance, but that shouldn’t be much of a concern given the no-log policy.
If you are looking for a secure and dependable VPN for a reasonable cost, PrivateVPN is a solid choice. You can give it a try risk-free with their free 7-day trial and the 30-day money-back guarantee.