What is PrivateVPN?
PrivateVPN is an Israel-based provider that claims to be the “fastest and simplest” VPN service on the market. It offers all of the key benefits like better privacy, improved security, and the ability to unblock content on the web. PrivateVPN is part of Ziff Davis and has been merged with StrongVPN.
For now, the PrivateVPN service remains active for existing users, while new users are directed to the StrongVPN website. PrivateVPN has recently expanded its server network to an impressive 1,300 servers across 51 countries. The global spread is strong and covers all the usual VPN server locations, plus a few rarer options.
PrivateVPN’s custom VPN apps are easy to download and install, but the app’s stability is poor with constant connection errors which can be a pretty frustrating experience. Users are often unable to connect to our preferred servers, even after seeking help from customer support.
Apart from this the apps are very basic and easy to navigate for beginners. Installing PrivateVPN’s browser extensions for Chrome and Firefox is really simple. All you need to do is click through to either the Chrome Web Store or Mozilla Add-ons store, download the extension, log in, and connect. It shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes.
Private VPN
What popular features do you get with PrivateVPN?
- Anonymous logs only
- AES-256 encryption
- Tor over VPN Server
- Smart DNS Tool
- Records limited connection data
- IKEv2/IPSec, L2TP/IPSec and OpenVPN (TCP/UDP) protocols
What kind of business is PrivateVPN ideal for?
PrivateVPN suits beginners who are looking for a reliable and secure VPN. However it won’t work well for streaming fans. PrivateVPN offers simple apps with acceptable security standards and connection speeds. It stores connection logs, has limited P2P support, and doesn’t unblock US Netflix consistently.
Pros and Cons
- Ease of use
- VPN kill switch
- No IP/DNS/WebRTC leaks
- Simple custom apps
- Instant set-up on popular devices
- Collects some VPN connection data logs
- Torrenting only permitted on 3 servers
People like you also researched
Here are some products we think might be a good fit based on what people like you viewed.
Express VPN
- High-speed servers in 90+ countries
- Military-grade encryption
- No-log policy
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Apps for all major platforms
- 24/7 customer support
NordVPN
- 24/7 customer support
- Easy to use and compatible with various devices and operating systems
- 30-day money-back guarantee
- Specialty servers for specific purposes
McAfee®
- Encrypted internet connection
- Malware protection
- Secure web browser
- Access to restricted websites
- Unlimited data
- 24/7 customer support
How much does PrivateVPN cost?
*based on information provided by the vendor. Actual cost may vary.
PrivateVPN offers cheap plans with 30-day-money-back guarantee. A single month is the most expensive at $12.95. The annual PrivateVPN subscription comes in at $5.49 per month, and the three-year plan is very affordable $2.50 a month.
The payment options include PayPal, credit cards, and a variety of crypto currencies like Bitcoin and Ethereum.
Customer Support is available at PrivateVPN
If you encounter a problem, there is 24/7 live chat support available. You can also use the support page and browse through the setup, troubleshooting, and FAQ sections. PrivateVPN’s online knowledge base covers the basics of installation and troubleshooting well.
Conclusion
PrivateVPN used to be a pretty good VPN, but recent server connection issues make it far too unreliable for us to recommend it anymore. Speeds are below average and streaming access has plummeted, although the recent massive expansion to its server network is a big positive boost to the network.
PrivateVPN is cheap and runs almost everywhere, but major app issues make it impossible to recommend for Windows users, and below par speeds and a lack of features will be an issue for everyone else.
