PrivadoVPN is a relatively new VPN service that has quickly gained popularity, thanks largely to its generous free version. But does its premium offering hold up against the competition? This review dives deep into PrivadoVPN’s features, performance, security, and pricing to help you decide if it’s the right VPN for your needs.
PrivadoVPN offers a compelling mix of speed, security, and features, making it a strong contender in the VPN market. Its Swiss location and commitment to privacy are further advantages. However, the absence of an independent audit and a relatively smaller server network are factors to consider. Its exceptional free version provides a risk-free way to experience the service before committing to a paid subscription.
Features and Performance: A Smooth User Experience
PrivadoVPN’s Windows app boasts a sleek, modern interface, a significant improvement over earlier versions. Navigation is intuitive, with a prominent connect button, clear server information, and easy access to key features like the kill switch, protocol selection, split tunneling, and ad/tracker blocker (“Control Tower”).
PrivadoVPN’s Windows app
PrivadoVPN supports WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 protocols across all servers. The “SmartRoute” split tunneling feature offers both opt-in and opt-out functionality, allowing granular control over which applications or websites use the VPN. Control Tower blocks ads and trackers, and also includes parental controls for adult content and social media. A premium antivirus add-on is available for an additional fee.
PrivadoVPN Split Tunneling
While PrivadoVPN offers a robust feature set, it lacks some advanced options found in competing VPNs, such as multi-hop servers and customizable DNS settings. The service provides 24/7 support via live chat and email, and its website offers a helpful self-help section. Platform support is broad, covering Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Android TV, and select routers.
PrivadoVPN Control Tower
Performance testing across various global servers revealed impressive speeds. Average download speeds were 68% of the baseline, while upload speeds reached 79%. This puts PrivadoVPN in the same league as top performers like NordVPN and ExpressVPN, making it suitable for streaming, torrenting, and online gaming. In testing, PrivadoVPN successfully unblocked major streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, and Disney Plus.
Security and Privacy: Swiss Protection
PrivadoVPN utilizes AES-256 encryption and offers WireGuard, OpenVPN, and IKEv2 protocols. Its Swiss base is a significant advantage, as Switzerland has strong data privacy laws and is outside the Five Eyes, Nine Eyes, and Fourteen Eyes alliances.
PrivadoVPN Protocols
While PrivadoVPN claims a no-logs policy, it has not undergone an independent third-party audit. It also uses traditional servers rather than more privacy-focused RAM-only servers. PrivadoVPN collects some data, including connected device information, bandwidth usage (for the free tier), and anonymous crash reports, but states it does not log browsing history or IP addresses. Both the kill switch and DNS leak protection performed reliably in tests.
Pricing and Free Tier: Excellent Value
PrivadoVPN offers monthly, annual, and biennial subscriptions. The monthly plan is priced at $10.99, which is relatively high compared to competitors. However, the 1-year plan ($35.88, or $2.99/month) and 2-year plan ($47.76, or $1.99/month) offer significantly better value, with three free months included.
PrivadoVPN SOCKS5 Proxy
PrivadoVPN’s free plan is one of the best in the industry. It provides access to 13 servers, unlimited speeds (capped at 10GB/month), 10 simultaneous connections, and all the same platform support as the premium version. It even allows streaming, though the 10GB data limit will be reached quickly.
Conclusion: A Worthy Contender
PrivadoVPN is a strong VPN service with a lot to offer. Its speed, features, and free version make it an attractive choice for a wide range of users. The lack of an independent audit and a smaller server network are areas for potential improvement. However, its Swiss jurisdiction and commitment to privacy are reassuring. Trying the free version is highly recommended to experience PrivadoVPN firsthand before opting for a paid subscription.
