PrivateVPN Reviews and Expert Opinion
PrivateVPN Overview
Hailing from Sweden, PrivateVPN is a product in a country known to value one’s privacy. But does it live up to its name?
The answer is yes. Thanks to a legitimate, strict no-logs policy and 2048-bit encryption, PrivateVPN does a splendid job in keeping you safe from the lurking threats on your network. Top-shelf features like the automatic kill switch and in-built leak protection are also present, acting as safeguards against accidental leaks.
PrivateVPN caters to a wide range of users, and does so successfully. It’s not just the privacy-conscious — torrent junkies will love the port forwarding and the P2P functionality. Tech-savvy gadget lovers will also appreciate the 6 simultaneous connections.
Things are a bit different when content unblocking comes into play. PrivateVPN has no issues with the vast majority of web services, but those with more particular needs (cough, Netflix, cough) will be disappointed. We tried, it didn’t work — things could be different for you, but the poor server variety (just over 100) makes us remain skeptical, even if PrivateVPN have a Netflix guide on their website.
Speed isn’t a remarkable aspect, either. You won’t be browsing at a snail’s pace, but don’t expect lightning-fast connections either.
The good news is that you have one month to cancel your subscription and get refunded, should you decide PrivateVPN is not the one for you. The money-back guarantee, coupled with decent customer service, make it easy to test this VPN for yourself and draw your own conclusions.
The answer is yes. Thanks to a legitimate, strict no-logs policy and 2048-bit encryption, PrivateVPN does a splendid job in keeping you safe from the lurking threats on your network. Top-shelf features like the automatic kill switch and in-built leak protection are also present, acting as safeguards against accidental leaks.
PrivateVPN caters to a wide range of users, and does so successfully. It’s not just the privacy-conscious — torrent junkies will love the port forwarding and the P2P functionality. Tech-savvy gadget lovers will also appreciate the 6 simultaneous connections.
Things are a bit different when content unblocking comes into play. PrivateVPN has no issues with the vast majority of web services, but those with more particular needs (cough, Netflix, cough) will be disappointed. We tried, it didn’t work — things could be different for you, but the poor server variety (just over 100) makes us remain skeptical, even if PrivateVPN have a Netflix guide on their website.
Speed isn’t a remarkable aspect, either. You won’t be browsing at a snail’s pace, but don’t expect lightning-fast connections either.
The good news is that you have one month to cancel your subscription and get refunded, should you decide PrivateVPN is not the one for you. The money-back guarantee, coupled with decent customer service, make it easy to test this VPN for yourself and draw your own conclusions.
Pros
- Solid encryption
- No-logs policy
- Great torrenting features
- Comes with leak protection and a kill switch
- Well-organized interface
- Supports up to 6 simultaneous connections
- 30-day money-back guarantee
Cons
- Not that many servers — Just over 100 across 56 countries
- Struggles with Netflix
- Light blue interface color may be irritating for some
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Speed8.2
PrivateVPN delivers pretty impressive speeds. We tested the service on multiple servers and it scored high speeds on almost all servers with the exception of Hong Kong. It’s understandable since Hong Kong server locations are the most challenging to most VPN providers. PrivateVPN’s unlimited bandwidth and seamless speeds make it a good contender for streaming videos even in HD.
Why Most Speed Tests are Pointless & How We Correctly Test VPN Speeds
Speed determines how fast content uploads, so if you're torrenting or streaming, you want the speed to be somewhat identical to your regular internet speed. Since a VPN encrypts your data, it usually takes a bit longer to send your data back and forth, which can slow down your connection. However, if your ISP deliberately slows down your connection (also known as throttling) a VPN might increase your internet speed. Testing a VPN is somewhat pointless because new servers pop up and affect speed. Your speed can also differ according to your location, so your speed test might not match ours. Having said that, we tested the speed in numerous locations to provide you with the average.
Servers8.7
PrivateVPN has 100 servers in 56 countries.
Server Locations
ArgentinaAustriaAustraliaBulgariaBrazilCanadaSwitzerlandColombiaCosta RicaCyprusCzech RepublicGermanyDenmarkEgyptSpainUser Experience8.2
The process of downloading, installing, and configuring the PrivateVPN client is fast as simple, as one would expect. We were done in just a couple of minutes.
The client itself gets the job done, but allow us to share a personal pet peeve: the vibrant light blue theme was a bit too straining on the eyes. We’d love it if there were different colors in the future — maybe a dark mode?
Moving on, ease of use is a highlight. Choosing your preferred servers is as easy as letting the VPN connect you automatically, and everything of relevance is at an arm’s reach.
This extends to the mobile apps as well. PrivateVPN has done a great job in making a neat, practical client for phones and tablets — often a difficult task for providers.
The client itself gets the job done, but allow us to share a personal pet peeve: the vibrant light blue theme was a bit too straining on the eyes. We’d love it if there were different colors in the future — maybe a dark mode?
Moving on, ease of use is a highlight. Choosing your preferred servers is as easy as letting the VPN connect you automatically, and everything of relevance is at an arm’s reach.
This extends to the mobile apps as well. PrivateVPN has done a great job in making a neat, practical client for phones and tablets — often a difficult task for providers.
Support9.6
If you’re wondering how to access PrivateVPN’s live chat because you can’t find it on their website, worry not: it’s integrated into the client (top-left corner). We were initially confused as well.
Aside from that, there is a knowledge base with an FAQ, troubleshooting, and other guides — all the standard stuff. You can also send a ticket, but don’t expect a lightning-fast response.
What’s interesting about PrivateVPN is that it offers remote help. Honestly, we doubt you’d ever need someone installing this VPN (it’s very easy), but it’s nice to have that option.
Aside from that, there is a knowledge base with an FAQ, troubleshooting, and other guides — all the standard stuff. You can also send a ticket, but don’t expect a lightning-fast response.
What’s interesting about PrivateVPN is that it offers remote help. Honestly, we doubt you’d ever need someone installing this VPN (it’s very easy), but it’s nice to have that option.
How We Test Customer Support and Why Should You Care
We personally test the customer support team of every VPN we review. This means asking technical question through the live chat feature (where applicable) and measuring the response time for email questions. Whether you need to connect to a specific server, change your security protocol, or configure a VPN on your router, finding a VPN with quality customer support should be important to you.
Pricing8.8
PrivateVPN’s prices are about average for the market — monthly subscriptions are a bit more expensive than most, but this is offset by great one-year discounts.
In any case, you have a safety net in the 30-day money-back guarantee. Get it, try it out, make up your mind, and get refunded if you so desire — you won’t be losing any money in the process.
Payment methods for PrivateVPN include credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and others), as well as PayPal and Bitcoin.
In any case, you have a safety net in the 30-day money-back guarantee. Get it, try it out, make up your mind, and get refunded if you so desire — you won’t be losing any money in the process.
Payment methods for PrivateVPN include credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and others), as well as PayPal and Bitcoin.
