Review of PrivateVPN – Get 83% savings on this fast and secure VPN

PrivateVPN is known to be a Sweden-based VPN provider and has almost 150 servers. It claims to be one of the best VPNs for privacy, streaming, as well as security.

 

But the question is whether it can measure up or can it compete with other large providers?

There are many questions that came up in mind while reviewing PrivateVPN such as:

 

• Is it fast?
• Does it work smoothly with streaming sites such as Netflix, Amazon Prime video, etc.?
• Whether PrivateVPN has a no-logs policy or not?
• Does it work in China?
• Is it affordable?

 

Every question will be answered in this review. However, I have been using PrivateVPN for quite some time now, and is beneficial in keeping every activity safe from hackers or snoopers

Summary of PrivateVPN 

No wonder it runs a small network but it has some big offerings. It is a complete all-rounder with amazing privacy as well as high speeds. Its trustworthy connection as well as the ability to unblock sites is great for streaming. PrivateVPN is also beneficial in using torrents and easily works in China.

Key Data of PrivateVPN 

OVERALL RANK:  #6 OF 42 VPNS
Speed	9/10 Read more
Average Speed *	71 Mbps
Video Streaming Support	4K, HD video conferencing
Streaming	9/10 Read more
Netflix	Yes
Other Streaming Services	Amazon Prime Video, Disney+, BBC iPlayer
Security	8/10 Read more
Encryption Type	256-bit AES
Kill Switch	Yes
Log Policy	No logs
Protocols	OpenVPN over UDP or TCP, IKEv2, L2TP, and PPTP
Value for Money	8/10 Read more
Lowest Monthly Cost	$3.82
Money Back Guarantee	30 days
Website	https://privatevpn.com/

Comparison of PrivateVPN with other famous VPNs

Comparing VPNs can be beneficial to know which one is better. Here is a comparison of PrivateVPN with other top-rated providers like ExpressVPN or NordVPN.

PrivateVPN PROS

• It unblocks Netflix as well as other sites
• Fast speeds
• Zero Logs
• One can use it on six devices at a time without facing any connection issues.
• Live chat as well as remote control support
• Allows torrenting
• Works in China

 

Know whether PrivateVPN is fast or not? 

PrivateVPN is a small server network that raises questions about its speed. But turns out it is one of the best VPNs when it comes to speed.

 

PrivateVPN is known to have increased its server network but comprises around 150 servers. This number is dwarfed by some of its competitors like NordVPN or CyberGhost. Also, PrivateVPN covers around 60 countries but is less than ExpressVPN which covers around 94 countries.

 

As per the test locations or times, it averaged 71 Mbps in download speed. The test servers were known to be located in Asia, Europe, as well as North America. Here are some of the average speeds of PrivateVPN as per the regions:

 

• North America: 94 Mbps
• Asia: 62 Mbps
• Europe: 57 Mbps

 

Also, online gaming was not a problem, and making video calls was done with no lag or buffering. But somehow there was a delay in connecting to the server.

 

 

Devices suitable to work with PrivateVPN 

The subscription with PrivateVPN is beneficial to connect around six devices at any time. Here are the apps:

 

• Windows 7 and newer
• MacOS 10.11 or later
• iOS 9.0 and up
• Android 4.0 or newer
• Amazon Fire TV

 

Apps are lightweight and not even low-powered devices won’t face any issues. However, when it is to desktop apps, servers are done alphabetically.

 

You can even check the behavior of the clients in the settings screen with some of the options like starting the app as well as connecting automatically.

 

There are also other options that include leak protection, kill switch, Stealth VPN, etc.

Also, its mobile app is similar to the desktop client but there are some features missing. PrivateVPN can also be manually configured to work with Linux as well as other routers.

 

 

 

 

It Streams Netflix and Kodi

The question is whether PrivateVPN can unblock Netflix or not?

 

It can unlock various Netflix libraries. This is a great unblocker of Netflix as I was able to unblock catalogs such as Netflix US, Canada, Australia, France, Spain, Brazil, UK, etc. It also works with various other sites like Amazon Prime Video, ITV Hub, Disney Plus, Hulu, etc.

It is very simple to connect with the server and there is also a Streamed service server list that allows you to unblock various platforms. PrivateVPN works amazingly with Kodi and you can download VPNs Android APK files on your device directly.

 

Is torrenting allowed by PrivateVPN? 

 

Yes. PrivateVPN offers torrenting as well as recommends using servers that are located in Sweden. It has many useful features like:

 

• Port forwarding help in connecting to peers in a torrent swarm.
• A kill switch helps in cutting the internet connection if the VPN connection drops. This also prevents the IP address from being exposed.
• An app-specific kill switch is beneficial in choosing apps that are shut off in case VPN is disconnected.

 

PrivateVPN has a true no-logs policy. Therefore, there are no chances of personally identifiable information being recorded.

Security, privacy, as well as logging 

PrivateVPN is based in Sweden and this is the reason that it has some stringent data retention laws. Thus, to sign up, the user needs to provide an email address as well as a password. The payment can be done via Stripe, PayPal, and even bitcoin. The details can be used for promotional or account correspondence purposes but will not be shared with any third party.

 

When it comes to data security, PrivateVPN has some customization options:

 

• Adjustable encryption – You have the choice to select 128-bit or 256-bt encryption. They both are great but 256-bit is stronger than the other one but 128-bit is great for speed. SHA256 is meant for authentication and in conjunction with 2048-boy RSA keys, and 2048-DHE keys which are meant for perfect forward secrecy.
• Protocol options – It depends on the device that you are using as there are many protocol options like OpenVPN, L2TP, PPTP, etc.
• A kill switch – This is enabled by default and if the VPN connection drops then the internet traffic will get blocked. This is great as a backup to keep your data private.
• Protection against IPv6 leaks as well as DNS leaks – All of this is enabled by default but you can toggle it off within the app.

 

PrivateVPN and its availability in China 

Due to China’s Grea6t Firewall many VPNs are blocked in China but PrivateVPN works in China and it recommends using Stealth VPN mode to connect easily in China. However, if for some reason it doesn’t work, PrivateVPN suggests making the best use of protocol options as well as using L2TP for connecting in China. The reason behind OpenVPN as well as PPTP can be easily detected and can be blocked by the country’s firewall.

 

It is essential to know that VPN sites can be blocked in China and due to this is essential to know the right way to set up the VPN on devices. PrivateVPN easily works in UAE as well as the wider Middle East.

 

Does it have good customer service? 

PrivateVPN offers detailed web tutorials as well as live chat support and email support. The live chat should be there 24/7 but there were some times when we visited the PrivateVPN site and it was not available. However, with the live chat features, the representatives of PrivateVPN were quick and knowledgeable.

 

The benefit of PrivateVPN live chat is that it provides remote control support for help with setup as well as troubleshooting. This is a great option for protocol options that need setups. However, if you don’t need immediate support then you can submit an email support request. It is quick and you can get a response within one hour.

 

PrivateVPN pricing

Here are some of the pricing plans offered by PrivateVPN:

• One month for $7.67 per month
• Three months for $4.88 per month
• One year (plus one free month) for $3.82 per month

 

Payment can be completed by using credit cards, PayPal, and even bitcoin. PrivateVPN has a referral scheme as well where you can earn some points after getting others to sign up.

 

Also, it offers a 30-day money-back guarantee on its plans. If you want to try it before buying then you can request a 7-day free trial by emailing them. This will also come with a gift code so that you can use the service without paying anything.

 

 

PrivateVPN coupons 

 

Our Recommendation 

It operates a small network but has big offerings and it can it unblock various sites. Its unlimited bandwidth, high speed, as well as amazing security and privacy mean it is great for torrenting. However, Mac users might miss the kill switch option. PrivateVPN works well in China as well as other countries. However, PrivateVPN is not 24/7 but its live chat and remote control support offer features and is perfect for beginners as well as advanced users.

 

Other alternatives to PrivateVPN

 

PrivateVPN is a solid VPN but there are some amazing alternatives as well. ExpressVPN has a large server network and is adept to unblock geo-restricted streaming platforms. Also, it is compatible with other devices and works in China. NordVPN is also a great option and offers amazing speed and has more than 5000 servers. It is great for torrenting, works in China, and is budget-friendly.