PrivateVPN is a provider that is only becoming more and more popular, and it claims to be the perfect VPN for both security and privacy, as per the company’s name. Instead of making the service out to be something it’s not, like some other providers, this VPN is highlighted as a simple service that offers high performance.
If you are looking for a VPN to use, there are lots of things that you should consider before making a decision, as this will help you to find the best VPN for your needs. Otherwise, you risk subscribing to a VPN that doesn’t offer you what you need. We are going to help you with this here.
We are going to share our extensive review of PrivateVPN in this article, so you can find out exactly what this VPN is all about. This way, you can find out everything that you need to know about the service, so you can be sure that you are getting everything that you need from your provider.
General Overview Of PrivateVPN
One of the biggest strengths of this VPN provider is that they offer a no-logs policy, but as well as this, they have torrenting support, excellent security, and reliable connections, which are some of the key things to look for in any VPN. You can even use the stealth VPN mode for bypassing censorship.
When it comes to streaming services, you won’t be disappointed with what this VPN can get you access to.
You will be able to watch Netflix with reliable speeds through designated servers, and there are also designated servers that will provide you access to Hulu, Amazon Video, and ABC. However, the one streaming service that you will not be able to access is BBC iPlayer.
Another benefit of PrivateVPN is that their apps are very user-friendly, and they provide you with lots of different options when it comes to customizing your settings, without overwhelming you.
Some of the main downsides to this service are that there is a smaller server network, and there is a lack of 24/7 live customer support, but this isn’t too much of an issue. As well as this, the kill switch is only available on windows devices.
Some Of PrivateVPNs Main Features
- Price – $2.50 a month
- 30 day money back guarantee
- Doesn’t keep logs
- Has 100 different servers to choose from
- Can be used on up to 6 devices per license
- Features a kill switch
- It is based in Sweden
- Has a live chat customer support option
- Supports torrenting
- It can be used to stream Netflix
Unblocking Content
There are lots of different VPN providers that will state that they can unblock geo-restricted streaming content, like Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer.
The only issue with this is that lots of these companies fail to deliver on their promises. In other instances, providers will only be able to unblock content on specific servers, but they fail to inform users about which servers are the best to use for streaming.
The good news is, PrivateVPN is neither of these things to an extent. Private VPN is as user-friendly as possible, which makes it easy for everyone to learn to use, even if you have never had a VPN before.
They go above and beyond to ensure that you know which servers to use, as they have labelled all of their servers that are able to access specific streaming sites. This is great because you won;t have to go around trying all of the different servers to see which ones work, only to find that none of them do.
Private VPN makes it as easy as possible for you to find the best servers for streaming Netflix and various other streaming platforms.
The labels that are used are very accurate, and even though there are many servers that are not able to bypass Netflix’s VPN block, all of the designated labelled servers were able to access Netflix successfully without any issues.
PrivateVPN has designated Netflix streaming servers in a few places around the world, including the US, UK, Canada, Germany, Italy, and Peru. The same can be applied to the other streaming services that you can access with this VPN, like Hulu, ABC, and Amazon Video.
If you were looking to get a VPN to allow you to access a variety of streaming platforms, then this could be the perfect VPN for you to get, as you won’t have any issues in doing so.
PrivateVPN Server Network And Speeds
One of the things that a few people have complained about when it comes to this VPN is their smaller server network. However, PrivateVPN has been working on this, and they now have more than 100 servers in 60 different countries around the world, as well as server locations within different countries.
Even though the total number of servers is still quite small, you can be sure that PrivateVPN is working on expanding their network, as they have already done, and hopefully, it will continue to expand in the future.
PrivateVPN also has the ability to maintain good speeds and reliable connections, which are two of the most important things to consider when you are looking for a VPN.
Their speeds and connections are better than a lot of competitors that have way more servers, so when you consider this, the size of the network doesn’t seem like so much of an issue.
If anything, server networks that are crowded can often slow down your connection speed quite a bit. If you are looking for good speeds, PrivateVPN is a great top contender in comparison to other VPNs at a similar price point.
The company doesn’t tell you which servers will provide you with the fastest speeds, so this is something that you will have to figure out for yourself, but there are some great options to choose from, depending on where you live.
The speeds can be quite varied, depending on the location in which you are trying to connect to, but they can vary anywhere from as low as 20 Mbps to 65 Mbps on average. Although, you can get higher than this.
One of the servers in the US provided a speed of 22 Mbps, whereas another within the US was much higher than this at 61 Mbps. So, it really all depends on the server that you choose and where you are located.
When it comes to speeds in the UK, you can also get some impressive results with download speeds of around 59 Mbps. When you are connecting to other services in Europe, you may notice slightly slower speeds, but they are not noticeably slow at all. So, you can still get decent to excellent speeds wherever you are trying to connect.
The most common speed issue that you will face is when you are trying to connect to somewhere that is particularly far away, like Australia.
If you connect to a server that is so far away, you are likely to be met with slower speeds. This is something that is common and normal with any VPN provider, as you are trying to connect to servers that are much further away from where you are.
There are some top providers that are still able to keep speeds relatively high, regardless of the longer distance, but PrivateVPN is not one of these companies. Although, for the price that you are paying on a monthly basis, they do offer you great speeds.
PrivateVPN is not the fastest VPN in the world, but they will meet most of your needs, especially when you consider the fact that they are a smaller network.
It might take you some trial and error to find the servers that give you the best speeds, but once you have found them, you won’t be disappointed. You shouldn’t face any difficulties when it comes to streaming, downloading files, or online gaming with PrivateVPN.
Another thing that you should make note of is that even though the speeds can vary depending on which server you are using, the speed of the server that you select will remain consistent over time, which is great for reliability.
Is PrivateVPN Good For Torrenting?
Yes, PrivateVPN is good for torrenting as it is torrent-friendly and it also supports unlimited P2P file sharing. You can also make use of port forwarding, which is available on specific servers.
As you might have already guessed from the name of this company, they are focussed on protecting your privacy. They have a friendly no logs policy, and when you are torrenting, PrivateVPN will use their strong security to keep your activity private and anonymous.
PrivateVPN also allows for unrestricted bandwidth, so you won’t have to worry about any drops in speed when it comes to larger downloads.
Is PrivateVPN Safe And Secure?
Private VPN has a lot to offer when it comes to things like safety and security, and when the VPN is enabled, it will hide your IP address and protect all of your data with strong encryption. This will ensure that you are safe, even if you are connected to an unsecured WiFi network.
This VPN will also protect your connection with IPv6 leak protection, DNS leak protection, and an automatic kill switch. This means that if your VPN connection were to suddenly drop, your data will still remain secure. The only downside to this is that the kill switch is only available on the windows app, so it can’t be used on any other devices.
One of the most convenient things about PrivateVPN is that you do not have to adjust any of the security settings before you connect in order to stay safe.
You do have the options to change your security settings if you want to, but the default settings will still be able to offer you excellent levels of protection. You should not experience any IP or DNS leaks while connecting to PrivateVPN.
This is something that you can actually test yourself while using the VPN, but many people have already done so and not encountered any issues. PrivateVPN will work to keep your identity anonymous and all of your data private. Your real location will remain undetectable while you are using PrivateVPN.
PrivateVPN Encryption
Another great benefit of PrivateVPN is that you will have the freedom to choose from several different encryption algorithms.
One of the most secure options available is AES 256-bit encryption, and this is the same level of encryption that is used by lots of military and government agencies, so you can be sure that you are secure.
PrivateVPN also supports a variety of secure protocols, including OpenVPN with UDP/TCP, L2TP, IPsec, PPTP, and IKEv2.
The default protocol that will be used if you don’t change it is an OpenVPN connection with UDP. If you don’t want to use this protocol, you can change it within the settings of the app, or you can follow one of PrivateVPNs installation guides.
Will PrivateVPN Keep Logs?
PrivateVPN is a company that is based in Sweden, and this means that they are under the 14-Eyes Alliance jurisdiction. However, this provider is strongly committed to protecting both your privacy and your anonymity. Their privacy policy actually states that they will not collect or log any traffic or usage data of any type.
When you sign up to use the service, you will be required to provide an email address and password in order to create your online account. This is the only information that will be stored by PrivateVPN. If you are looking for privacy and security, then PrivateVPN is a great service to choose.
The only thing that they don’t offer is an ad blocker as part of their service, which some VPN providers do.
Can I Use PrivateVPN In China?
Yes, you can use PrivateVPN in China due to the Stealth VPN mode that can be used. PrivateVPN avoids explaining how this mode works, which is understandable, as this information could otherwise be used to reduce its effectiveness, which would defeat the point of having it.
So, even though you can’t be sure exactly how it works, you can be sure that it does. The Stealth VPN mode will essentially hide the fact that you are using a VPN, which allows you to keep on using it undetected, even when you are in China.
If you were to look on PrivateVPNs website, you might notice that some users in China have better results when they use the L2TP protocol. OpenVPN connections can be caught by the impressive firewall in China.
So, you might want to change your protocol to L2TP, and you can do this through the settings menu in the app with ease if you want to.
How Much Does PrivateVPN Cost?
Surprisingly, for all of the great features that you get with PrivateVPN, the prices of the plans are very reasonable. You can also make use of great discounts when you subscribe to the longer plans, which makes this option even more affordable.
PrivateVPN tries to keep its prices low by offering a simple yet highly effective service, rather than trying to expand into every single specialty, which would only increase the price.
All of the subscription plans that are available for you to choose from will include the same premium features. The only difference between the plans is the length of time that you commit to.
If you want to try out the service before you fully commit to it, you should know that there is a 7 day free trial that you can use to try before you buy. However, the information surrounding this can be quite confusing. Unlike other companies, you will need to contact customer support to request the 7 day free trial.
Once you have done this, you will be given a gift code that you can use to activate your trial. Alternatively, you can make use of PrivateVPNs 30 day money back guarantee on all subscription plans.
What Devices Is PrivateVPN Compatible With?
PrivateVPN can be used by most people as it is widely available on different platforms. It has dedicated apps for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. You can also instal PrivateVPN manually for Linux, compatible routers, and Kodi., by following the manual installation guides.
The app that you can use is very similar across platforms, but the main difference between them all is that you can only use the automatic kill switch on the Windows app.
The other platforms don’t offer a kill switch, which might be a deal breaker for some people. You should also know that you will be able to connect up to 6 devices at once with just one subscription, which is great for families or people that have multiple devices.
PrivateVPN Customer Service
Overall, PrivateVPN is known for providing great customer service, but it is unclear on their website about when their live chat support feature is available.
Just like many other VPN service providers, this live chat function is not 24/7, which is fine. However, there is no information on their website to suggest when you can expect this live chat feature to be available. So, it is difficult to tell what hours of the day this service can be used.
When you try to use the live chat service, you will either get through and be able to talk to someone, or you will be redirected to a black page that will provide a link to the website’s email contact form.
If you do manage to get through to the live chat feature, you will be able to talk directly to a support agent within a few minutes, and this service can be really helpful when it is up and running.
So, if you are looking for instant answers to any questions that you might have, you might not always be able to get them. It seems as though it may be that the live chat is only available during business hours in Sweden. If this is the case, it would be nice to be able to find this information on their website, rather than having to guess.
However, even when the live chat support is not online, you will still be able to contact support through an email, or by filling out the contact form that can be found on their website. You might not get an instant response, but it is better than not getting one at all.
Alternatively, you could check out PrivateVPNs website to look at their helpful resources like detailed installation guide and an FAQ page.
Although the installation process is quick and easy, you can get remote help via TeamViewer. This is a feature that will allow you to give remote control of your device to a PrivateVPN technician support representative. They will be able to install the VPN onto your device without you having to lift a finger.
The TeamViewer service can also help you with troubleshooting issues.
Is PrivateVPN Easy To Use?
The thing that most people love the most about PrivateVPN is how easy it is to use. The app features a unique design, and it allows you to choose between the simple mode and the advanced mode with just the click of a button.
The simple mode is great for those that are unfamiliar with VPNs and how they work, and those that want to avoid the stress that comes along with advanced configurations.
It will display your connection status, server list, and the option to turn on Stealth VPN Mode. Connecting is literally as simply as choosing the server that you want to use and clicking select.
On the other hand, the advanced mode is perfect for those that would like to have the freedom to fine tune their settings to their own personal preferences. This is much better for those that are more experienced with VPNs and know what they are doing, and the settings have lots of customization options for you to choose from.
This will allow you to view all of the adjustable settings and easily select your preferred encryption algorithm and protocol.
Once you are happy with all of the settings that you have chosen, you will be able to click ‘connect with above settings’ to connect to the server with your desired settings. This gives you much more control over how you want to use your VPN.
When you are connected to a server, the app will display your current server location, as well as any relevant streaming labels, and your external IP address. It is very easy for you to switch between servers while you are using PrivateVPN, and the app itself is very intuitive to use, and it is both easy and straightforward to navigate.
So, you won’t be disappointed with the user-interface that PrivateVPN has to offer, as it really is designed to be as simple as possible. Just like the rest of the service that this company provides, it is the perfect balance between simplicity and functionality. What more could you ask for?
Setting Up PrivateVPN
As we have already mentioned, setting up PrivateVPN is a fast and easy process. All you have to do is head over to their website, choose a subscription plan from the available options, and proceed to enter your payment information.
You will then be directed to the next page, where you can create an account, and then the next page will be a step-by-step installation guide for your device. It really couldn’t be made any easier.
The installation guides are really easy to follow and they make the process completely painless. From the start to the finish, it will only have taken you a few minutes to complete.
The main interface of the app is extremely user-friendly, and you can switch between two display modes, which are simple and advanced, depending on your preferences.
The simple mode is free from clutter and things that are hard to understand, and it is straightforward and easy to understand for everyone. The advanced mode provides you with additional customization options when it comes to your settings, and it is great for users that are more experienced when it comes to using VPNs.
How Much Does Private VPN Cost?
When it comes to choosing the right subscription plan for you, you will have 3 different options to choose from. All of these plans will include the exact same features, but they will last for different lengths of time.
The prices are very reasonable, and you can even get discounts for the longer plans. The options that you can choose from are monthly, quarterly, and yearly.
The monthly plan costs $9.99 a month. The quarterly plan costs $6 a month, and the yearly plan costs $2.50 a month. So, the longer that you subscribe to PrivateVPN, the more money you will save, making it a much more effective option.
They also accept various different payment methods, including major credit cards, Paypal, and even Bitcoin. The latter is the best option for anonymity.
If you are unsure if you want to commit to a payment plan, you could also make use of the 7 day free trial to test it out before you make a purchase. You just need to contact customer support to request a free trial, and they will email you a code.
Summary
PrivateVPN is offering great security, a wide range of streaming services to access, a user-friendly interface, and so much more, all at affordable prices. This is a service that is becoming increasingly popular, and it is really easy to understand why.
This VPN is also focused on protecting your privacy and information with their no logs policy, and they do everything that they can to keep your connections table and secure.
The fact that they have a smaller network than other companies is concerning for some people, but while some servers do suffer from below average speeds, for the most part, the speeds are between decent and fast speeds.
You will still be able to access plenty of servers with fast connection speeds, but the connections are also very reliable, which is great news for those that want to use their VPN to stream and torrent.
Some of the ways in which PrivateVPN could improve would be by increasing their server network, implementing a kill switch on all devices, rather than just windows devices, and improving their customer support options. However, with all of that being said, they are still an excellent provider with a lot to offer customers.
Overall this is a simple yet reliable service that has lots of strengths and very few weaknesses. You get all of these features for an affordable price, and it is an excellent multi purpose VPN that offers competitive pricing plans, robust encryption for ultimate privacy and security, torrenting support, and so much more.
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