PrivadoVPN is a small yet mighty VPN provider that offers free and premium plans. The paid version provides incredibly fast speeds, robust security, and performance that piles up with the best VPN providers. But it would be interesting to know which version is more suitable.
The VPN offers sufficient privacy, security-boosting sites, and a small server network. However, people have always criticized it for being overly priced. Besides this, users on Reddit have significant complaints about its apps. The best way is to review PrivadoVPN in detail to test if all these claims are valid and whether PrivadoVPN is a compatible VPN.
Before going into much detail, here is a bird’s eye view of what the VPN provider has to offer:
Security and Privacy:
Encryption
- AES-256 bit encryption
Jurisdiction
- Switzerland
Log Policy
- Follows a no-log policy but does keep a minimum amount of information
Security Features
- Kill switch
- Split tunneling
- Ad blocker
Streaming and Torrenting
List of Compatible Streaming Platforms
- Netflix
- BBC iPlayer
- Hulu
List of Torrenting Features
- Split tunneling
- Torrent IP leak protection
- SOCKS5 proxy
User-friendliness
No. of Servers
- Hundreds of servers in 47 countries
Pricing
- $4.99/m on 1-year plan
- $7.99/m on a one-month plan
Customer Support
- Email ticket
- Live chat support
- Online resources
Compatible Devices
- Android
- iOS
- macOS
- Windows
- AndroidTV
- Firestick TV
While the table above does list the basic features, it isn’t enough to provide more insight into PrivadoVPN. Hence, it’s crucial to start exploring it in detail.
Security and Privacy
According to VPN statistics, more than half of the netizens use a VPN to protect their privacy on Wi-Fi, while 44% use it for anonymous browsing. To provide maximum anonymity and privacy on the web, a VPN should utilize strong encryption ciphers, protocols, and security-boosting features like a kill switch and VPN leak protection.
Moreover, it’s also vital that a VPN has its headquarters in a safe jurisdiction and keep itself away from logging and sharing users’ browsing data.
What encryption does PrivadoVPN use?
PrivadoVPN works well in providing basic security to all its users. It uses the industry’s highest standard AES-256-bit encryption to safeguard incoming and outgoing traffic from snooping eyes. This encryption standard is uncrackable and guarantees no one can intercept your online communication and digital privacy.
Where is PrivadoVPN located?
PrivadoVPN claims it was founded to fulfill the growing demands of internet freedom for all. The jurisdiction of its choice seems to be proof of that too. The VPN provider has its headquarters in Switzerland, also the renowned ProtonVPN headquarters. The country is considered secure since it is not a member of the five eyes, nine eyes, and 14 Eyes alliance. Thus, it has no role in sharing users’ data with international intelligence agencies.
Moreover, Switzerland is widely considered a safe haven for VPN providers since it doesn’t force VPN providers to retain user information. VPNs are not considered the major telecom operators in Switzerland and are exempted from Swiss surveillance laws. Therefore, you can trust PrivadoVPN and consider using it.
Does PrivadoVPN keep data logs?
PrivadoVPN is a relatively new VPN provider, but it vows to keep the users’ activities private and ensure an anonymous browsing experience. For this purpose, the VPN provider follows a zero-logging policy. According to the privacy policy, PrivadoVPN doesn’t log your IP address, browsing data, or any other information that can reveal your true identity.
The VPN keeps minimal information about you; they have also accepted this in their privacy policy.
Besides this, the VPN provider also records the bandwidth utilized, but they do it to provide better user service. However, there’s no proof of the transparency of PrivadoVPN. The company hasn’t ever performed security, app, log, or infrastructure audits. It is a bit concerning, and in the upcoming time, the service provider must undergo a log audit process to prove that it’s living up to all its claims.
Which Encryption protocols does PrivadoVPN use?
PrivadoVPN uses the industry’s designed secure and reliable tunneling protocols, including
- OpenVPN
- IKEv2
- WireGuard
Each encryption protocol PrivadoVPN utilizes uses robust algorithms that perfectly balance speed and security.
OpenVPN provides excellent security benefits and is the most popular among the other protocols PrivadoVPN uses. Apart from that, the WireGuard protocol is relatively new that PrivadoVPN uses, but it performs incredibly well. You can use it to enjoy super-fast speeds faster than OpenVPN and IKEv2. Also, it uses AES-256-bit encryption and various robust ciphers for enhanced security. Additionally, Privado VPN also offers the IKEv2 protocol. The protocol grants users fast speed on mobile phones, but unlike OpenVPN and WireGuard, IKEv2 does not offer robust security.
The VPN provider claims all protocols are compatible with all supported devices. There is no issue in changing the protocols; you can easily do it with a click by navigating the settings.
Bypassing censorship
PrivadoVPN, like other top-tier VPN providers, claims to bypass internet censorship and helps users access the deep free internet world. Though the VPN provider lacks anti-censorship protocol and obfuscation technology, the VPN provider somehow manages to circumvent tough censorship.
It uses a SOCKS5 proxy that changes your location and IP address and allows you to access censored content and social media sites. Moreover, by tweaking your protocol settings and using the OpenVPN (TCP) port, you can access blocked websites and services using PrivadoVPN.
Besides this, PrivadoVPN also offers servers in Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Japan meaning it can work in China. But the VPN provider has no servers in Russia, Turkey, or UAE, so you won’t successfully use PrivadoVPN to bypass censorship in these restrictive countries.
While the VPN provider is fairly decent in circumventing censorship, it does need to invest in expanding its reach. There are various ways that its servers can be blocked or come across tougher censorship that might be hard to circumvent with the current technology the VPN relies on. Therefore, it must consider introducing obfuscation or the stealth VPN feature that Surfshark VPN and ExpressVPN use.
Past history of the VPN provider
PrivadoVPN is a Switzerland-based VPN provider that started its services in 2019. Since its launch, the VPN has been improving its service for users. After a few months, it began its services as an enterprise solution and introduced commercial services to provide a free VPN service to everyone.
The VPN provider works to provide open and secure internet access to everyone. They are going well in their mission. The company hasn’t been deemed to exploit users’ sensitive data and privacy, which users demand from a high-quality VPN provider.
Extra privacy and security features
PrivadoVPN isn’t the VPN you’d prefer to use for extra features. Like NordVPN, PrivadoVPN doesn’t come with a range of additional privacy and security-focused features. It provides basic security and privacy and comprises the following features:
Kill switch
While using the VPN, if your internet connection drops, it can reveal your IP address and allow prying eyes, including hackers, to spoof your activities. With the PrivadoVPN kill switch feature, you can secure your internet activities and identity.
The VPN kill switch monitors your connection. When the VPN connection drops, it disconnects you from the internet and blocks the incoming and outgoing traffic to and from your device until the connection restarts. Before connecting with the VPN server, you must manually turn on the kill switch feature. To do so, Go to Preferences > General > and Tap on the kill switch feature.
The PrivadoVPN kill switch feature is available on all supported devices and platforms. However, some users have complained that they don’t have the kill switch feature in the premium plan.
Split tunneling
Split tunneling is a helpful feature that allows you to control your data, like which data will be encrypted while browsing the web. PrivadoVPN also offers a split tunneling feature that enables you to select apps you want to protect by the VPN. The apps you haven’t chosen route the data via a regular internet connection. You can experience faster internet speed and greater security by excluding certain apps.
Furthermore, you can use this feature to download torrents, unblock apps or services, and access blocked foreign content. The VPN provider offers this advanced networking feature in the premium version and is compatible only with Android and Amazon devices. The feature is not enabled by default; hence, you must manually turn it on.
SOCKS5 proxy
PrivadoVPN is among the few rare VPN providers with the free SOCKS5 proxy feature. The SOCKS5 proxy is a great security tool for bypassing censorship. Connecting to the SOCKS5 proxy means your traffic comes from another location instead of your own. Hence, it’s the preferred choice while torrenting or unblocking foreign content. Also, it transfers your data and files via proxy servers, improving connection security.
To benefit from this feature, you need to upgrade to the premium version because it isn’t available in the accessible version of PrivadoVPN. Always use the free proxy in conjunction with a VPN to enjoy better security and data encryption ability.
PrivadoVPN offers no other feature besides the above features and its biggest drawback. Considering the demand for enhanced security and privacy, it surely needs to work on introducing various features like double VPN, dedicated IP address, or ad-blocker.
Streaming and torrenting
It would be best to always use a compatible VPN during streaming and torrenting. It maintains security by concealing your IP address and encrypting the data traffic. Besides this, a VPN offers advanced features like split tunneling, IP leak protection, smart DNS play, and dedicated P2P file-sharing and streaming servers, ensuring a hassle-free user experience.
Compatible streaming devices
PrivadoVPN is a good option for streaming geographically restricted content. With PrivadoVPN, you can unblock your favorite content from the following streaming platforms:
- Netflix
- BBC iPlayer
- Hulu
- HBO Max
The VPN provider has multiple servers in various US cities like Dallas, Chicago, and New York, which means you can easily get the US IP address and access the US Netflix library. Similarly, you can find servers in Canada and the UK and watch TV shows and movies.
Besides this, you can also watch the streaming content on other channels like BBC iPlayer and Hulu. However, if you’re connecting from a long-distance server, you might wait a long time for the connection to get established and might also experience buffering and connection lags.
PrivadoVPN also works on various sports streaming platforms like ESPN and allows you to watch your favorite sports played anywhere in the world. But, the only concern is that PrivadoVPN lacks dedicated streaming servers. Hence, it does cause connectivity issues. Moreover, the VPN also lacks the Smart Play DNS feature; therefore, you can’t connect the VPN to streaming devices and gaming consoles.
Is PrivadoVPN good for Torrenting?
PrivadoVPN also claims to be a reliable and secure VPN for downloading torrents, and one can’t deny this fact. Since the VPN offers an advanced kill switch and split tunneling features and even follows a zero-logging policy that clearly states that the VPN doesn’t log and share data, it becomes a good choice for downloading torrents from anywhere.
Moreover, PrivadoVPN also offers a free SOCKS5 proxy option that improves speed and ensures a fast torrent downloading experience. However, users have accused the VPN of being involved in IP leaks, which new users looking for a torrent VPN won’t like. Also, while using any PrivadoVPN app for torrenting, you can face issues setting up the torrent client. Thus, make sure first to watch the setup guides and then proceed.
The VPN provider also offers a free version with 10GB of monthly data that works well with torrents, but fast speeds are not guaranteed in this situation.
Follow this link if you’re still looking for the best VPN for torrenting.
How fast is Privado VPN
Another noticeable claim that PrivadoVPN makes is offering the fastest connection speeds across all servers. The free version provides a 10GB monthly data limit and allows you to access 12 servers in various locations. You might experience slow speeds while torrenting, streaming, or browsing, as the server locations are not revealed.
The premium version of PrivadoVPN has an unlimited bandwidth limit meaning it won’t restrict any of your activities. But, the server network is expanded to 59 cities which is pretty low compared to other fastest VPNs. You experience reliable speeds on local servers, while the connection time and speeds are unreliable when connected to long-distance servers.
Unfortunately, the VPN lacks advanced features that might help improve the connection speeds. Still, you can somehow manage a stable connection to WireGuard or OpenVPN protocols. Besides this, you can also face a failed connection when the auto-connect feature is enabled or when you try to reconnect to a server, and it fails. If you encounter any such issue, you can restart the app and connect to the original server to fix the problem.
In a nutshell, PrivadoVPN doesn’t compete with the fastest VPN, and if speeds are your prime concern, then you should opt for other VPN providers.
User-Friendliness
PrivadoVPN started with the launch of Android and Windows apps, but they developed apps for other platforms as they progressed. In 2020, the VPN introduced apps for iOS and MacOS platforms, and in the following year, they introduced dedicated apps for Android TV and Firestick TV.
The number of servers PrivadoVPN has
PrivadoVPN offers a global server network comprising hundreds of servers across 47 countries. You can find PrivadoVPN servers in Asia, Europe, and America, but adding more servers in the Middle East will be better. The VPN provider server network is pretty small, which increases the server load and makes them often congested, significantly impacting the speeds.
You can use the auto-connect feature to select your favorite server location and automatically connect you to a secure location when you start the VPN app. In addition, you can use the Recommended server location option that connects you with the fastest server available.
However, if you’re using the free version, you’d only be allowed to access servers in 12 cities while the exact numbers and server locations are not revealed.
How good is PrivadoVPN customer support
While using PrivadoVPN, you can contact its customer support team if you experience a problem or want to inquire about something. You can contact PrivadoVPN’s customer support team via the 24/7 live chat feature or by generating an email ticket. Both options are pretty reliable and won’t disappoint the users.
Like the live chat feature, you can also expect to receive a quick reply via email.
The chat agents you talk live with are people in-real. They do possess the knowledge and guide you on the correct path.
The reply to the above email was received quickly, which was impressive. In addition, if you’re seeking more help or guidance, you have website resources like FAQS, setup guides, and blogs. Also, you can change the website language into three languages other than English and even follow them on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and Reddit and resolve your issues.
Which devices are compatible with PrivadoVPN
PrivadoVPN offers great compatibility features like many other VPN providers. It offers dedicated apps you can easily download and install from the respective app stores. The VPN provider is compatible with the following devices:
- Android
- iOS
- MacOS
- Windows
Besides this, you can also use the VPN on Android TV and Firestick TV. You can find the setup guides on the website’s support page, making the installation hassle-free. The mobile and desktop apps of PrivadoVPN are pretty similar. However, MacOS devices don’t receive good reviews from users as they often have bugs that impact the app’s overall performance. Unfortunately, you won’t be able to use PrivadoVPN on Linux devices and routers.
Conclusion
PrivadoVPN is a relatively new VPN provider in the market with much room for improvement. The VPN provider offers great security and privacy by using AES-256 bit encryption, belonging from a safe jurisdiction, and not logging sensitive data. However, PrivadoVPN hasn’t undergone any third-party audit process to prove its claims. Also, an immense lack of security and privacy-boosting features makes it less than other competitive VPNs.
Besides this, PrivadoVPN should also improve its apps and expand its server network, further enhancing its ability to stream the blocked content quickly.
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About the Author
Rebecca James is an IT consultant with forward thinking approach toward developing IT infrastructures of SMEs. She writes to engage with individuals and raise awareness of digital security, privacy, and better IT infrastructure.
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