PrivadoVPN Review 2025

With so many VPN options available, it can be tricky to find one that truly fits your needs. Promises of privacy, fast speeds, and unrestricted access to content are common, but the reality often varies. PrivadoVPN, based in Switzerland, has built its reputation around a strong no-logs policy and a focus on security, backed by Switzerland’s strict privacy laws.

Launched in 2019, PrivadoVPN delivers reliable performance for streaming and browsing securely, but it does have a few limitations. Its server network is smaller compared to leading VPNs, and it lacks unique features that set it apart from competitors. Despite these drawbacks, it remains a contender as an easy-to-use VPN for those seeking security and privacy protection.

If you’re looking to explore a new VPN option and are considering PrivadoVPN, this 2025 review will help you decide whether it meets your expectations and is worth considering among the many alternatives.

PrivadoVPN Pricing: Is It Affordable?

When looking for the best VPN, pricing is often one of the most critical factors. In this section, we’ll break down PrivadoVPN’s pricing structure, providing a clear, in-depth analysis to help you determine if it truly delivers value for your money.

With multiple subscription plans available, we’ll examine each one closely based on our hands-on experience with various VPNs to see which plan best suits different user needs.

Plans and Pricing

PrivadoVPN offers three main subscription plans, each with different pricing tiers. Here’s a quick breakdown:

• Monthly Plan: $10.99/month – Ideal for short-term users but on the higher end for a VPN service.
• 12-Month Plan: $2.99/month – Offers significant savings compared to the monthly plan and provides long-term value.
• 24-Month Plan: $1.99/month – The most affordable option for those willing to commit for a longer period, offering the best value overall. This price brings it closer to the cheapest VPNs on the market.

Add-on: Available on one and two-year plans, PrivadoVPN antivirus costs an additional $1.99 per month. It provides real-time protection against malware, ransomware, and other threats, ensuring that your devices remain secure while you browse or download content.

Each plan includes unlimited data, access to servers in 66 cities, and allows up to 10 simultaneous connections. Long-term plans clearly offer better value if you’re looking for extended coverage.

Is the PrivadoVPN Free Plan Worth It?

While PrivadoVPN does offer a free plan with 10GB of data each month (which makes it a great free VPN), it’s worth noting that this plan comes with limitations.

With the free plan, you get access to a limited number of servers, which can result in slower speeds during peak times. Plus, you also miss out on their proprietary Control Tower and additional perks that enhance usability.

It’s a decent starting point for those who want to test the service, but the free plan is clearly not meant for heavy users or those seeking full access to all the VPN’s features.

Money-Back Guarantee

PrivadoVPN provides a 30-day money-back guarantee on all paid plans, which gives you a good safety net if you’re unsure whether to commit. Based on our tests, the refund process seems straightforward, and we haven’t come across significant reports of issues when requesting refunds.

It’s an industry-standard policy, giving you the chance to thoroughly test the service before fully committing. On that note, if you’re interested, we have an article listing the best free VPN trials.

Payment Methods

When it comes to payment options, PrivadoVPN offers several methods, including credit/debit cards, PayPal, and cryptocurrency. The addition of cryptocurrency is a plus for those prioritizing anonymity, which aligns well with the overall privacy-focused nature of VPN services.

Renewal Costs and Considerations

It’s important to be aware of renewal costs, as PrivadoVPN’s discounted rates are for the first term only.

After the initial subscription period, the renewal prices increase to their standard rates. For example, the 12-month plan will renew at a higher price once the first year is up. This is something to consider, especially if long-term affordability is a priority.

Security Features: How Secure Is PrivadoVPN?

Security is the core reason most people seek out a VPN. In this section, we’ll review PrivadoVPN’s security measures and provide an in-depth analysis of how it protects your online activity.

With encryption protocols and extra features, PrivadoVPN claims to offer strong protection, but how does it hold up in testing and real-world experience?

Basic Security Features

PrivadoVPN comes with a standard set of security features expected from any reliable VPN provider:

• AES-256 encryption: Widely regarded as the gold standard in encryption, AES-256 scrambles your data so thoroughly that even the most sophisticated attackers can’t decipher it.
• No-logs policy: Based in Switzerland, PrivadoVPN operates under strict privacy laws, meaning it doesn’t record any of your online activity, safeguarding your data from surveillance.
• Kill switch: In the event of a VPN disconnection, the kill switch ensures that your internet connection is cut off immediately to prevent any unprotected data from leaking.

These foundational security features provide a good level of protection, but we need to look closer at the more advanced options PrivadoVPN offers to see how it stacks up against competitors.

Advanced Security Features

While the basics are solid, PrivadoVPN steps up with more advanced features, which we’ll analyze to see if they provide that extra layer of protection:

IP Leak Protection

This feature ensures that your actual IP address is never exposed, even in situations where the VPN connection becomes unstable or weak. DNS leaks are a common vulnerability, and PrivadoVPN’s leak protection is designed to prevent any accidental IP or DNS exposure.

SmartRoute

PrivadoVPN offers split tunneling with SmartRoute, a feature that lets you choose which apps go through the encrypted VPN tunnel and which access the internet directly. This is particularly useful for tasks like local browsing while keeping your sensitive data protected.

It also features an application-specific kill switch, ensuring that even if you lose your VPN connection, certain apps stop transferring data to avoid exposure. Plus, you also get the flexibility to bypass or tunnel specific websites and IPs.

SOCKS5 Proxy

For those who prioritize speed over security in certain situations, PrivadoVPN provides access to a SOCKS5 proxy. This proxy hides your IP address without the need for full data encryption, offering much faster speeds, especially for torrenting and file-sharing activities.

While this is handy, you can’t access the SOCKS5 proxy within the app; you have to sign in to PrivadoVPN and set it up from the website.

Control Tower

PrivadoVPN’s Control Tower feature adds an extra layer of security by blocking intrusive ads, preventing tracking, and protecting your devices from malware, ransomware, and other cyber threats. It also includes ad-blocking and threat prevention, enhancing your browsing experience and security.

While this is a standard offering with most VPNs, PrivadoVPN takes a step ahead by offering Family security (Parental controls) with social media blocking support.

How Good is the Control Tower?

PrivadoVPN introduces its Control Tower as a standout feature in its security arsenal. The Control Tower functions as an advanced ad blocker and threat prevention tool, designed to improve your overall browsing experience by keeping intrusive ads and malware at bay.

Control Tower – Threat Protection

PrivadoVPN’s Control Tower offers more than basic VPN protection — it provides a comprehensive threat prevention system. This includes active malware and phishing blocking, as well as the ability to block ads and prevent ad trackers from tracking user activities.

In my in-depth review, we started by disabling the Control Tower feature and running an ad-block test, which unfortunately resulted in a low score of just 10%. After enabling it, the score jumped to 90%. Disabling individual options like ‘Ads’ dropped the score to 30%, proving the Control Tower’s effectiveness in blocking threats.

Control Tower – Family Security

Family Security is a key feature of PrivadoVPN’s Control Tower, designed to restrict access to inappropriate content such as gambling sites, substance abuse platforms, and cryptocurrency-related risks.

We tested the Family Security feature with the Gambling option. Disabling it allowed access to betting sites while enabling it blocked access as expected. This shows PrivadoVPN’s experience in keeping families safe online.

Control Tower – Social Media

PrivadoVPN’s Control Tower also includes social media management, enabling users to block access to platforms like Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok. This feature is ideal for families or anyone looking to control their social media usage.

When reviewed, we performed a test of the Social Media section, specifically focusing on Instagram. With the feature disabled, YouTube was fully accessible. After enabling the option, Instagram access was blocked, proving the feature’s efficiency.

Does PrivadoVPN Keep Logs?

One of the most critical factors when evaluating a VPN service is its logging policy. Since the primary purpose of using a VPN is to enhance privacy, the idea of data logging raises concerns for many users.

In our analysis, PrivadoVPN promotes itself as a strict “no-logs” service, meaning it doesn’t store or track your online activities. This reassures privacy-conscious users that their browsing habits remain secure and undisclosed.

However, upon closer review, PrivadoVPN’s privacy policy does mention that it may collect certain non-personally identifiable data for service operation, such as connection timestamps or server performance metrics. This is fairly standard among VPN providers but might be a point of consideration for those who prioritize total anonymity.

While PrivadoVPN’s headquarters in Switzerland, with its strong privacy laws, provides some reassurance, it has never undergone a third-party independent audit. We found no significant red flags, but it’s always a good idea to read through the privacy policy to evaluate your personal comfort level with any data collection, even if it’s minimal.

If you ask us, we would suggest going with NordVPN or ExpressVPN, as they are independently audited and provide more detailed transparency reports.

How Does PrivadoVPN Perform?

When testing any VPN, performance is often the key factor that determines its day-to-day usability. In our performance review, we ran PrivadoVPN through a series of tests to provide a comprehensive analysis of its capabilities.

Speed Tests: Performance Evaluation

Speed tests are the first step in reviewing a VPN’s performance and understanding how it handles different tasks. In our test and analysis, we evaluated PrivadoVPN’s speeds across various server locations and protocols. For comparison, our speeds were around 60Mbps before connecting to the VPN.

Regional Servers

In our experience, PrivadoVPN excelled in terms of speed on nearby servers. We noticed only a minimal dip in connection speeds of around 10-20%, allowing for uninterrupted FHD – 4K streaming, fast browsing, and even online gaming. It’s suitable for everyday tasks, with no noticeable lag.

Long-Distant Servers

On long-distance servers and countries with VPN restrictions, the speed drop became more pronounced by dropping 50-60%. While still usable for general browsing and HD streaming, other bandwidth-intensive activities experienced some buffering. This is typical for most VPNs, but PrivadoVPN maintained a stable connection, just with reduced speeds.

Protocol Efficiency

PrivadoVPN supports several protocols, including OpenVPN, IKEv2, and the highly efficient WireGuard. In our test, WireGuard provided the fastest speeds, particularly on long-distance servers. If you are looking to balance security and speed, WireGuard is likely the best choice, but OpenVPN remains an excellent option for those focused on security.

However, the only issue we experienced was the time it took to change between protocols and servers.

The delay was more than 10-15 seconds, and we never experienced such issues when testing NordVPN, ExpressVPN, or Private Internet Access. If you want the best performance, you should clearly opt for one of these.

Encryption and Leak Tests

Encryption and leak prevention are crucial for maintaining privacy while using a VPN. PrivadoVPN secures your data with advanced encryption algorithms, ensuring it remains unreadable to anyone without proper authorization.

To truly assess a VPN’s effectiveness, it’s essential to check encryption and run leak tests that check how well your IP address, DNS requests, and other data are kept private.

Encryption Test

We ran an in-depth analysis of PrivadoVPN’s encryption by examining how well it secures the data being transmitted. The VPN employs the widely trusted AES-256 encryption, the highest standard in the industry.

During our test, we used Wireshark to track and follow packets by setting the protocol to WireGuard, and all packets were completely encrypted. This confirms that PrivadoVPN effectively shields your data from prying eyes, ensuring your browsing and sensitive information remain secure.

IP Leak Test

An IP leak occurs when your actual IP address is exposed, even when you’re connected to a VPN. During our review, we ran an IP leak test on various servers using websites like ipleak.net.

The results were promising, with PrivadoVPN successfully masking our real IP address in every scenario, displaying only the IP address of the VPN server. This suggests that PrivadoVPN passes the IP leak test across all tested servers, whether they are nearby or long-distance.

DNS Leak Test

A DNS leak can expose which websites you’re visiting, compromising your privacy. We tested PrivadoVPN’s ability to protect DNS requests by conducting a DNS leak test on DNSleaktest.com.

Our test confirmed that there were no DNS leaks, as all DNS requests were securely routed through PrivadoVPN’s encrypted servers. This means that none of the browsing data was visible to third parties like your ISP, ensuring a private web experience.

WebRTC Leak Test

WebRTC is a browser-based technology that can reveal your real IP address, even while connected to a VPN. To assess PrivadoVPN’s performance, we ran a WebRTC leak test on BrowserLeaks.com.

Throughout the test, PrivadoVPN successfully blocked any WebRTC leaks, preventing our true IP from being exposed. This ensures that both your public and private IP addresses remain secure, even when using WebRTC-enabled browsers like Chrome or Firefox.

Streaming and Torrenting Capabilities

If streaming or torrenting is a priority, PrivadoVPN handles both. However, while it performs admirably in most areas, some limitations could affect your experience.

Access Various Streaming Platforms

In our review, PrivadoVPN was able to unblock the most popular streaming platforms, such as Netflix, Hulu, and BBC iPlayer. We experienced minimal buffering on local servers and enjoyed HD and 4K streaming without any significant delays.

However, we noticed some inconsistencies when accessing regional content, which required multiple attempts to find the right server and unblock the content (for example, when trying to access the American Netflix catalog from outside the US).

Despite these minor issues, a little patience can overcome them, making it a decent option for general streaming needs and unblocking content.

That being said, if you don’t want to make any compromises, it’s better to turn to NordVPN, which is the best VPN for anything related to streaming.

Torrenting is Fast and Secure

PrivadoVPN supports torrenting across its network, offering stable speeds for P2P downloads. In our test, torrent speeds were consistent on nearby servers, and the added security features, like DNS leak protection and a kill switch, ensured that our activities remained private.

However, we noticed that PrivadoVPN lacks dedicated P2P servers, a feature that some competitors provide. While this isn’t a dealbreaker, it could be seen as a drawback for those who rely heavily on torrenting.

To avoid these limitations, it is better to pick a VPN like NordVPN that offers dedicated P2P servers. It also goes a step ahead by offering the Onion over TOR feature, which adds an extra layer of anonymity by routing your traffic through both the VPN and the Tor network.

Are PrivadoVPN Servers Reliable?

In our in-depth analysis, server coverage is a critical aspect we review to determine a VPN’s overall reliability. PrivadoVPN currently operates servers in 49 countries and 66 cities, strategically covering key regions such as Europe, North America, Asia, and beyond.

While the server network isn’t as extensive as some of the larger VPN providers, such as NordVPN, ExpressVPN, PIA or Proton VPN, it still offers a solid range of locations for general browsing, streaming, and secure connections.

All of PrivadoVPN’s servers can support P2P traffic, making it a reliable choice for torrenting and other file-sharing activities. While there aren’t any specifically dedicated P2P servers, the existing network ensures sufficient performance for these activities.

However, when compared to larger VPN providers with vast server networks, the limited number of servers may result in congestion during peak times, especially in popular locations. During our test, the servers performed reliably across multiple locations, and we did not experience any significant downtime or interruptions.

Bypassing Censorship: Is It Effective?

In this in-depth review, we tested PrivadoVPN’s ability to bypass various forms of censorship and geo-restrictions. A key use case for many VPN users is accessing content from regions where websites, streaming platforms, or apps are restricted due to local regulations or government censorship.

PrivadoVPN performed well in regions with moderate censorship. Additionally, the VPN was able to bypass restrictions on content in countries with strict censorship, such as China or the UAE, though performance may be inconsistent due to their stricter censorship policies.

While PrivadoVPN did succeed in bypassing many restrictions during our test, it doesn’t offer the advanced obfuscation or stealth modes seen in NordVPN or ExpressVPN, which are specifically designed for countries with heavy surveillance and censorship, like China or Russia. This may limit its effectiveness in those high-censorship regions.

In summary, PrivadoVPN can work in countries with low censorship. However, in countries with strong censorship, it’s better to turn to other services. We recommend reading our list of VPNs that work in China, or our ranking of the best VPNs for Saudi Arabia.

Ease of Use & Compatibility

PrivadoVPN stands out for its easy-to-use interface and broad device compatibility, making it a great option for both beginners and experienced users. In this section, we’ll provide an in-depth analysis of how well the VPN works across different platforms and how simple it is to navigate.

PrivadoVPN App Interface (PC and Mobile Platforms)

The app interface remains the same on all platforms, it is clean, intuitive, and simple to use. It features a large connect button right on the home screen, allowing you to quickly connect to the nearest or the best server.

The settings are easy to navigate, and essential features such as split tunneling, kill switch, and server selection are all accessible from the main dashboard without needing to dive into complicated menus. This makes it convenient even for those who aren’t tech-savvy.

Device Compatibility

PrivadoVPN is compatible with a wide range of devices, ensuring flexibility in usage. It offers native apps for Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, and even Amazon Fire TV. This multi-platform support makes it convenient for those who want to protect their privacy on various devices.

In our test, we found the apps to work seamlessly across all platforms with no significant differences in performance or features. If you’re an advanced user, you can refer to PrivadoVPN’s support manuals on setting up routers and Linux devices, allowing you to use VPN on all devices.

Up to 10 Simultaneous Connections

PrivadoVPN allows for up to 10 simultaneous connections, which is generous compared to other VPN services that often limit you to 5 or 6 devices. This is especially beneficial for families or individuals with multiple devices. Whether you’re securing your smartphone, laptop, desktop, or smart TV, PrivadoVPN has you covered.

Setting Up PrivadoVPN on Routers

If you want to secure your entire network, PrivadoVPN can be manually set up on compatible routers. This is a useful feature if you have several devices that aren’t natively supported by the app, such as gaming consoles or smart home devices.

By configuring the VPN on your router, every device connected to that router benefits from VPN protection. While the detailed guides are handy, the steps are too straightforward. We felt that adding more steps and images would make it easy for even those who aren’t technically aware.

Customer Support

When using a VPN, responsive and knowledgeable customer support can greatly improve the overall user experience. PrivadoVPN offers several options for customer assistance, but does it truly provide the in-depth help that users might need during setup or troubleshooting?

Available Support Channels

PrivadoVPN’s website provides email support, a knowledge base, and an FAQ section. The knowledge base covers common queries related to installation, account management, and troubleshooting issues.

However, it lacks live chat support, which is a major drawback for those who expect real-time assistance. Email inquiries can take up to 24 hours for a response, so it’s not ideal for urgent matters.

Response Quality

Based on our test of PrivadoVPN’s customer support, we found the email responses to be polite, helpful, and accurate, but not always timely. While the support team is knowledgeable, the lack of instant communication options may leave you frustrated if you encounter an issue that requires immediate attention.

If you’re looking for the best support, we have never found any better than NordVPN and ExpressVPN. They are always quick with their 24-x7 live chat support.

Self-Help Resources

PrivadoVPN’s FAQ section and knowledge base are fairly detailed, but they could benefit from more comprehensive troubleshooting guides and tutorials. Compared to other VPN providers that offer extensive video tutorials or step-by-step guides, PrivadoVPN’s self-help resources feel somewhat limited.

Final Verdict: Should You Choose PrivadoVPN?

PrivadoVPN ticks the boxes for privacy and security, offering strong encryption, a no-logs policy, and features like the Control Tower for advanced ad and threat blocking. However, in a competitive VPN market, these offerings aren’t enough to stand out.

With a smaller server network spanning 49 countries, you may experience congestion during peak times, especially in high-demand regions. Struggles to unlock regional content, speed drops on long-distance connections, and the lack of dedicated servers for streaming or P2P also limit its appeal for power users.

Customer support is another downside. The absence of live chat and slower email response times can be frustrating, especially when compared to providers that offer 24/7 live assistance.

To summarize our review of PrivadoVPN, the service works well for casual users needing basic privacy and access to geo-blocked content. However, if you’re looking for a feature-rich, high-performance VPN with a broader server network and better support, services like NordVPN or ExpressVPN offer more value for serious users.