PrivadoVPN : Full Review, Testing, and Presentation (2024)

What is PrivadoVPN?

PrivadoVPN is based in Switzerland. That means they're not legally required to keep user logs, so they don't. This is important for users who want to be assured that their privacy and online activities are protected.

With a single PrivadoVPN subscription, you can protect ten devices at the same time and enjoy unlimited bandwidth.

We especially liked the free version of PrivadoVPN. Compared to other free VPN providers, PrivadoVPN offers a lot of options. Their free version has 10 gigabytes of data per month and allows access to 12 servers. However, the paid version gives you access to over 200 servers in 44 countries.

Users of the free option have access to servers that are also included in the main server network for paying customers. That means everyone gets the same level of safety and speed.

Some disadvantages of PrivadoVPN are their limited server network, the lack of a WireGuard protocol, and the fact that they don't offer dedicated IP addresses. However, these are not major issues and in general we are very happy with PrivadoVPN.

Features

No matter how fast a VPN is, it's useless if the VPN doesn't also protect your online information. A good VPN makes you more anonymous online and encrypts your data. PrivadoVPN does all of this very well.

Below, we'll provide you with some details about their privacy policies, VPN protocols, and information required to create an account. In short, these are our conclusions about the security of PrivadoVPN:

• PrivadoVPN is based in Switzerland, which means that users are protected by very strict privacy laws.
• They have a strict no-check in policy.
• The VPN uses 256-bit encryption.
• Users can choose between several solid VPN protocols, including a SOCKS5 proxy.
• PrivadoVPN has a kill switch.
• To create an account, simply provide an email address and payment information.

1. Protocols

PrivadoVPN uses 256-bit encryption, which is the gold standard in the VPN world.

PrivadoVPN supports the following protocols:

• OpenVPN (UDP) : By far the best combination of speed and safety. Works on almost any network.
• OpenVPN (TCP) : Slightly slower than OpenVPN (UDP), but more secure and works on almost any network.
• IKEv2/IPsec : Faster than OpenVPN protocols but may not work on some networks.

Of these options, your safest bet is OpenVPN (UDP). This protocol has never been hacked.

PrivadoVPN chooses the fastest protocol by default. If you prefer a specific VPN protocol, you can select that protocol in the “Settings” menu under the “Protocol” tab.

In addition to the various protocols, PrivadoVPN also has a SOCKS5 proxy.

PrivadoVPN does not offer the WireGuard protocol, even though this high-speed, open-source VPN protocol is used by some other providers. This protocol is often considered to be a newer, safer, and better option than IPsec and even OpenVPN.

If you want to know more about VPN protocols, you can read our article comparing the various VPN protocols available.

2. Logging and privacy

PrivadoVPN is based in Switzerland, where users' privacy is well protected. As a result, PrivadoVPN does not need to keep user logs. In addition, any request for customer data at PrivadoVPN must be legally disclosed to the customer.

PrivadoVPN has a strict no-registration policy and does not store any information about the behavior of users of its service. The VPN provider doesn't collect your IP address either. In short, your online browsing behavior is not monitored in any way.

Current data is stored on RAM servers, which means it cannot be retained for long periods of time. All login logs are anonymized and not linked to the user's account in any way.

In other words, with this build, PrivadoVPN couldn't even keep user logs if it wanted to. The VPN service knows that users are connecting to the network, but it doesn't have any data telling them who's connected, where they are, or what they're doing.

In addition, PrivadoVPN servers are fully protected against IP and DNS leaks. So, users don't have to worry about someone monitoring what they're doing online when they're connected to the PrivadoVPN network.

3. Emergency stop button

When your connection to a VPN drops suddenly, your data is exposed. To prevent this from happening, PrivadoVPN has a kill switch option. This option immediately shuts down your Internet connection when the VPN network is interrupted, so your information won't be leaked online. It's definitely a must for any security-conscious VPN provider.

The kill switch function is in the dashboard and can be easily activated and deactivated.

4. Server network

PrivadoVPN's server network is quite extensive for a relatively new VPN, but small compared to competitors. Below you will find our findings about PrivadoVPN's server network.

• PrivadoVPN's server network has over 200 servers in 44 countries.
• Free VPN users can choose between twelve of these servers.
• A lot of their servers are managed by PrivadoVPN, making it easy to upgrade and maintain.
• PrivadoVPN does not offer dedicated IP addresses.

PrivadoVPN has more than 200 servers in 60 cities in 44 different countries. Compared to some VPN providers, like ExpressVPN and NordVPN, it's not much. However, this is probably enough to be able to bypass geographic restrictions.

A big advantage is that a large number of servers are managed by PrivadoVPN itself. This is a great choice because renting servers from a third party can have serious security consequences.

PrivadoVPN has servers in the following countries:

• america : Argentina, Brazil, Canada, Canada, Mexico and United States.
• Europe : Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain, Spain, Finland, France, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, France, France, Greece, Hungary, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bulgaria, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, France, Denmark, Spain, Finland, France, France, France, France, France, France, France, Greece, Hungary, France, France, France, France, Greece, Hungary, France, France, France, France, Greece, Hungary, Belgium, Bulgaria, Bulgaria, Bulgaria,
• asia : Australia, Hong Kong SAR, India, Japan, India, Japan, Japan, Japan,, Japan, Japan, Korea, Korea, Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, and Taiwan.
• Middle East and Africa : Israel, Turkey and South Africa.

The various servers are clearly indicated in the PrivadoVPN application.

You can easily choose which server you want to connect to. You can also select a preferred server that Privado will automatically connect you to as soon as you launch the application.

5. Dedicated IP address

PrivadoVPN does not offer dedicated IP addresses. A dedicated IP address can help unblock streaming services and avoid annoying captchas. If you're looking for a VPN that offers dedicated IP addresses, you can check NordVPN or CyberGhost

6. netflix

PrivadoVPN and Netflix go well together. With this VPN, you won't have to worry about geographic restrictions. Simply choose a VPN server in the region where the content you want to watch is available, and you can watch it instantly.

Netflix tries to block VPN users and will pause a stream if it suspects you're using a VPN. PrivadoVPN buys IP addresses in bulk, making it harder for Netflix to find out that one of its IP addresses belongs to a VPN provider.

PrivadoVPN works particularly well with US Netflix. If you connect to one of their servers in the United States, you can take advantage of the extensive offer of movies and series on the American version of Netflix.

7. Torrenting

Torrenting also works well with PrivadoVPN. Unlike other free VPNs, PrivadoVPN supports P2P traffic on all of its servers and for all active accounts.

PrivadoVPN offers two options for downloading torrents anonymously. First, you can connect to the regular PrivadoVPN network to download torrents safely. Your IP address will be hidden and your data will be encrypted. This process of encrypting and decrypting data takes time and can slow downloads. We have experienced this in practice as well: during our tests, we encountered some delays during downloads.

The second option for downloading with PrivadoVPN is more focused on speed. If you have a paid account, you can use a SOCKS5 proxy for the download. SOCKS5 makes your connection anonymous by masking your IP. However, your data won't be encrypted the way it is with a VPN, so it's not as secure as connecting to a Privado VPN server.

Vitesse

Speed is very important for a VPN. We test all VPNs on speed to make sure you don't experience lag while streaming or gaming. In summary, here are our findings on PrivadoVPN's speed:

• PrivadoVPN speeds are decent.
• During daily use, there is no significant drop in speed.

Our test with Speedtest.net gave us the results shown below. We carried out these tests with our Internet connection in the Netherlands. The results of any speed test you run yourself may differ depending on your Internet connection and location. However, these results give an indication of how using PrivadoVPN affects your speed.

Without a VPN

These are the results of our internet speed without a VPN. We use these results as a baseline measure. This makes it easier to see the performance of PrivadoVPN.

Local server

The image above shows our speed results when we were connected to a local, Dutch PrivadoVPN server. Ping has increased slightly and download and upload speeds have dropped slightly.

Faraway server

This shows our speeds when we connected to a PrivadoVPN server in the US, which is a long way from our local connection. As you can see, the ping has increased a lot. Download and upload speeds have dropped slightly compared to the speed we had with a local server.

Speed during daily use

We also tested the speed of PrivadoVPN during daily use. Fortunately, we did not encounter any delays during navigation. Downloading and streaming also went fairly smoothly.

YouTube and Netflix seem to work well with this VPN. When streaming American Netflix, we experienced almost no delays. In addition, it is possible to play games while connected to a PrivadoVPN server.

Overall, PrivadoVPN is a relatively fast VPN with virtually no lags.

Customer Support

The PrivadoVPN website has a support page with answers to a large number of frequently asked questions. If your question is not there, you can always contact customer service by email. We tested the customer service and received clear answers to our questions in under an hour.

Unfortunately, PrivadoVPN does not have a live chat function. It would definitely make their customer service even better. However, despite the lack of a live chat, we received a very quick response to our email.

Rates

Privado offers both a free VPN and a paid VPN. The free PrivadoVPN plan offers 10GB of data per month and access to the twelve most popular servers. These servers belong to the same network as the servers on the paid account, which means that you will have the same quality and security with a free account as with a paid account.

If you want to take it to the next level, you can choose between a monthly subscription and an annual subscription. A monthly subscription costs $7.99. With a 1-year subscription, PrivadoVPN only costs $2.50 per month.

This Black Friday, Privado is even offering a special offer of only $1.99 per month for a two year and three month subscription!

A premium account will give you access to all PrivadoVPN servers, unlimited data, and a SOCKS5 proxy. Additionally, these plans allow you to connect up to ten devices to the VPN simultaneously.

Both paid plans offer the same features, with the only difference being that the annual subscription is significantly cheaper and has a longer fixed subscription period.

PrivadoVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee. This means that, if you are not satisfied with their service, you can request a refund of your money within 30 days.

PrivadoVPN accepts the following payment methods:

• Credit card (VISA, MasterCard, American Express, Discover Card)
• PayPal

For the sake of total privacy, it would be nice if they also offered an anonymous payment method such as cryptocurrencies. If you want this level of anonymity, you're better off choosing a VPN provider like Mullvad, which accepts cryptocurrencies.

Alternatives to PrivadoVPN

1. NordVPN

NordVPN is a very well known VPN provider based in Panama. It offers a large number of features for security, privacy, and convenience.

In terms of security, it includes ad blocking, DNS leak protection, robust encryption, and a VPN kill switch. A strict no-registration policy, a strict privacy policy, and support for anonymous payments have you covered when it comes to privacy.

Dedicated P2P servers, native applications for all major platforms, and up to six simultaneous connections (or more with a VPN router) make NordVPN a very user-friendly service.

2. Surfshark

It's one of the cheapest VPN services I've seen, with subscriptions starting at just $1.99/month.

Surfashark supports secure VPN protocols and works exceptionally well on most streaming sites. It adheres to a strict no-registration policy, and the service also operates in China.

On top of that, Surfshark allows for an unlimited number of simultaneous connections. It also recently updated all of its servers to run on RAM. To be checked.

3. ExpressVPN

ExpressVPN is one of the most prominent players in the commercial VPN market and has an excellent reputation.

Its privacy and security practices are remarkable. All of its VPN servers run in volatile memory (RAM) and are booted from read-only disks.

This configuration virtually ensures that no residual data (logs) can exist on the system's hard drives, which is a boon for user privacy.

ExpressVPN may be a bit more expensive than most other providers, but it's fast, secure, unblocks streaming sites, and works in China.

How do I install PrivadoVPN?

You can download the PrivadoVPN software for Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.

The installation process is very simple and fairly straightforward. Below is a step-by-step plan:

1. Go to the software page on the PrivadoVPN website and choose your operating system.
2. Click the button corresponding to your operating system to download the installation file.
3. After installing the software, enter the username and password that you received when you registered.
4. Choose a server at a location of your choice.
5. Connect to PrivadoVPN and your data will be protected!

If you want to install the VPN on your tablet or smartphone, you can download their official app from the Play Store.

You can also install PrivadoVPN directly on your router or on Linux systems.

On the PrivadoVPN website, you'll find detailed manuals that explain how to do this. At the moment, this is a premium feature only available for paid accounts.

FAQs

Do you have a question about PrivadoVPN? Take a look at some of our frequently asked questions below. Click on the question to see our answer.

Is the PrivadoVPN network secure?

PrivadoVPN is a very secure VPN service. This VPN uses the strongest encryption available and has a strict no-log policy. Additionally, PrivadoVPN has a kill switch that will keep your data safe even if your VPN connection is interrupted.

Does PrivadoVPN work with Netflix (US)?

With PrivadoVPN, you can access your Netflix account. If you connect to a server in the United States, you will have access to the American Netflix library.

Is PrivadoVPN easy to use?

Installing PrivadoVPN is quick and easy. The PrivadoVPN website and software are clear and intuitive. For this reason, PrivadoVPN is also suitable for new VPN users.

Is PrivadoVPN free?

PrivadoVPN has a nice free version with 10GB of data and twelve servers available. To unlock all the features of PrivadoVPN, you can get a premium subscription for $2.50 on our website.

Final opinion

For a relatively new VPN service, we are very happy with PrivadoVPN. Their VPN is very reliable and complies with strict Swiss privacy laws. Plus, PrivadoVPN is very user-friendly. Its server network isn't as extensive as some other VPN providers, but it has enough servers in various countries for most needs. The connections we tested were stable and didn't slow our internet connection down too much.

Of course, there are a few things that PrivadoVPN could further improve on in its service. For example, they don't currently offer dedicated IPs or split tunneling, which are useful features we're seeing with other VPN providers.

Furthermore, PrivadoVPN does not yet use the new WireGuard protocol. This fast protocol is used by other VPN providers, like Surfshark. PrivadoVPN also does not accept anonymous payment methods like cryptocurrencies.

Overall, the pros of PrivadoVPN definitely outweigh the cons. For a new VPN, they work extremely well. Do you want to test PrivadoVPN before signing up for a paid subscription? Try their service with their free version or use their 30-day money-back guarantee!