PrivateVPN Review (September 2023)

As it stands, PrivateVPN is available across all of the major operating systems in use today.  These include,

• iOS
• Mac
• Windows
• Android
• Linux

The only area where PrivateVPN falls behind a few of its competitors is its lack of support for browser extensions.

While its crop of servers (>200) and supported countries (63), may seem modest when compared to offerings such as ExpressVPN, this should not be an issue.  With hundreds of servers accessible at anytime, users should never have problems finding a fast connection point in their region of choice.

One area where PrivateVPN appears to be working on expanding is its ability to circumvent geographical ISP restrictions surrounding streaming services.  The company has released a series of tutorials on how to take advantage of this capability.  With this in mind, PrivateVPN is a solid option for users looking to access the following services while travelling in unsupported regions.

• Hulu
• DStv
• BBC iPlayer
• Paramount+
• HBO Max
• Disney Plus
• Amazon Prime Video

In addition to providing support for the aforementioned streaming services while on move, PrivateVPN also allows for peer-2-peer file exchanges or ‘torrenting’ through its network of services.  Cumulatively, these capabilities make the service a top option for content consumers.

Although access to streaming services through use of PrivateVPN will more often than not be a seamless experience, there are times (like any platform) where one may need to contact customer support for assistance.  When this occurs, PrivateVPN boasts that it offers 24/7 customer support.

While access to a bevy of streaming services through PrivateVPN’s global network of servers is a huge plus, it is a moot point if the platform falls short on its security features.  Thankfully, PrivateVPN continues with a strong offering in this respect.

In addition to the most commonly used OpenVPN protocol, PrivateVPN users can make use of the following.

• UDP/TCP
• L2TP
• IPsec
• PPTP
• IKEv2

One of the most important, and often overlooked, features of a VPN service is its incorporation of a ‘kill switch’ which will shut down internet activity if connection to a PrivateVPN server is lost.  PrivateVPN incorporates this capability through a feature called ‘connection guard’.  Unfortunately, this service is currently only available for users running Windows.

Beyond its offering of ‘connection guard’, PrivateVPN provides access to DNS leak protection and various encryption algorithms (including AES-256)

Like any good VPN service, PrivateVPN maintains a strong stance surrounding the privacy of its users.

Based out of Sweden, PrivateVPN instantly benefits from a nation which places a high-level of importance on privacy as well.  While Sweden has attempted to crack down on copyright infringement in recent years, it still remains relatively safe when compared to most other countries.

Thankfully, PrivateVPN indicates that it never produces any logs of data traffic from its clients.  Meaning if a government were to request information, there wouldn’t be anything to provide even if it wanted to.  This combined with its base of operation means that users can rest assured their privacy will be maintained.

If not convinced on the safety of routing traffic through Sweden, PrivateVPN’s deep pool of servers means that a country more to your liking is always a few clicks away.

From a features standpoint, PrivateVPN does slightly fall behind by not offering a solution for blocking targeted ads.  Many users however prefer a streamlined service, with adblockers being of secondary importance.

Privacy and security are of the utmost importance, but if you are constantly buffering video, tapping bandwidth caps, and just struggling to load pages, many will simply find themselves de-activating their VPN services.  Thankfully, PrivateVPN does not implement any form of speed or bandwidth caps.  This, combined with a deep pool of servers to choose from mean that users can always expect high levels of performance with low latency.

If for whatever reason the performance of this platform does not live up to your expectations, rest assured as the service is backed by a 30-day money-back guarantee.

If after reading about the bevy of features on offer by PrivateVPN you are interested in purchasing a subscription, the company makes the process an easy one, accepting,

• Credit Cards
• PayPay
• Bitcoin

Regardless of which method you decide to use, plans range from a modest $8.99/mth to $59.99/yr.  On occasion, PrivateVPN has offered promotional offers which see its cost drop to as low at $2.50/mth – making it one of the most competitive VPN services on offer from a pricing standpoint.

Still unsure? Simply contact PrivateVPN to obtain a 7-day free trial of the service.

Overall, PrivateVPN is a solid choice with competitive pricing.  While it does fail to offer the full scope of services seen in certain competitors, it retains those which are most important, making it a perfect option for those not interested in ad blockers, and do not require thousands of server choices.

Make sure to visit PrivateVPN for a chance to learn more and sign up for this VPN service.